BX  8495   .H37  C6  1855 
Clark,  D.  W.  1812-1871. 
Life  and  times  of  Rev. 
Elijah  Hedding  . . 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/lifetimesofrevelOOclar 


f^EB  8  i9|q 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


OP 


MY.  ELIJAH  HEDDIIG,  D.  D., 


LATE  SENIOR  BISHOP  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 


By  key.  D.  W.'CLAEK,  D.  D. 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION, 

By  rev.  bishop  E.  S.  JANES. 


PUBLISHED  BY  CARLTON  &  PHILLIPS, 


200  MULBERRY-STREET. 


1855. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855,  by 
CAPtLTON  &  PHILLIPS, 

the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of 
New-York. 


PREPACE. 


When  the  preparation  of  the  biography  comprised 
in  the  following  pages  was  committed  to  the  author, 
it  was  his  purpose  to  make  it  strictly  personal, 
and  to  comprise  it,  if  possible,  in  a  duodecimo 
volume  of  some  four  hundred  pages.  But  when 
he  entered  upon  the  work,  he  found  the  history 
of  Bishop  Hedding  so  intertwined  and  blended 
with  the  early  history  of  the  Church  in  New- 
England,  and,  at  a  later  day,  with  the  history  of 
the  whole  Church,  that  the  full  development 
of  his  character  and  services  could  not  well  be 
made  without  keeping  in  view  the  concurrent 
aspects  of  the  great  Methodistic  reformation  in 
this  country.  The  carrying  out  of  this  idea 
involved  a  vast  amount  of  extra  labour.  It  has 
also  enlarged,  but,  he  trusts,  Hkewise  enriched 


2 


PREFACE. 


the  volume.  The  title  was  conformed  to  this 
idea; — hence,  "The  Life  and  Times  of  Hed- 
ding." 

The  material  for  this  work  has  been  drawn 
from  various  sources.  Much  of  the  personal 
statistics  was  derived  from  the  manuscript  jour- 
nal of  the  bishop;  other  portions  of  the  mate- 
rial from  manuscripts  written  by  Rev.  Moses  L. 
Scudder  and  Rev.  L.  M.  Vincent  —  both  of 
whom  wrote  for  him  when  he  became  disabled ; 
and  still  other  portions  were  drawn  from  manu- 
script notes  and  sketches  taken  during  the  last 
year  of  the  bishop's  life,  by  Rev.  William  H. 
Ferris,  and  by  the  author.  There  was  also  a 
large  accumulation  of  papers  and  letters,  all  of 
which  were  carefully  examined  and  laid  under 
contribution.  The  author  must  also  acknowledge 
his  indebtedness  to  Rev.  Dr.  C.  Elliott  for  the 
use  of  complete  files  of  "The  Wesleyan  Re- 
pository," "  The  Mutual  Rights,"  "  The  Itinerant," 
"The  Zion's  Herald,"  "The  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal,"  and  "Zion's  Watchman."  In  ad- 
dition, he  has  gathered  material  from  the  bound 


PREFACE. 


3 


volumes  of  "The  Minutes  of  the  Conferences/' 
the  bound  volumes  of  "  The  Methodist  Magazine," 
"Asbury's  Journals/'  "Lee's  Methodism/'  Ste- 
vens's "  Memorials  of  Methodism/'  Bangs's  "  His- 
tory of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church/'  and 
various  other  works.  The  material  gathered  from 
these  various  sources  the  author  has  endeavoured 
to  blend  into  a  new  and  homogeneous  production ; 
not  a  mere  bald,  historical  detail — but  history 
illustrated  by  incident,  and  illustrating  philos- 
ophy. 

On  some  portions  of  the  work  the  author 
has  bestowed  more  critical  and  extended  atten- 
tion, because  of  the  important  principles  in- 
volved; and  especially  because  Bishop  Hedding 
desired  that  his  memory  should  be  vindicated 
by  a  full  and  truthful  report  of  his  administra- 
tion 

The  place  of  publication  being  distant  from 
the  author,  he  was  compelled  to  read  the  proof- 
sheets  without  being  able  to  verify  the  statistics 
by  comparison  with  the  copy.    Still  he  trusts  that 

no  important  error  has  escaped  correction. 

1 


4 


PKEFACE. 


With  the  humble  desire  that  it  may,  in  some 
degree,  worthily  perpetuate  the  memory  of  a 
great  and  good  man  to  coming  ages,  and  thus 
prove  a  blessing  to  the  Church  of  Christ  and  to 
the  world,  the  volume  is  now  sent  forth. 

The  Author. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FEOM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  CONVESSION. 

Birth — Ancestry — ^Early  Religious  Instruction — Prayer  in  Childhood — A 
Mother's  Influence — The  Dutchess  Circuit — Benjamin  Abbot — Wonderful 
Displays  of  Divine  Power — Grandmother  and  Mother  converted — Ex- 
horted by  Abbot  in  Class-meeting — Removed  to  Vermont — Temptations 
to  Infidelity — Deism — Atheism — Universalism — Mental  Conflicts  —  A 
Critical  Period — Narrow  Escape — Spiritual  Destitution  of  Starksborough 
— Advent  of  a  Methodist  Family — Meetings  established — Young  Hedding 
reads  Sermons — Studies  Methodist  Theology — The  Methodist  Itinerancy 
— Note,  A  Picture  of  Aggressive  Methodism — Vergennes  Circuit — Joseph 
Mitchell — Wonderful  Revival — A  Mother  in  Israel — Note,  Conversion  of 
Mrs.  Bushnell — Young  Hedding  powerfully  awakened — His  Resolve  and 
Dedication — Sermon  from  Joseph  Mitchell — Obtains  Peace — Becomes  a 
Probationer — Obtains  the  Witness  of  the  Spirit — Triumph  over  Sin — State 
of  his  Mind  and  his  Studies — A  Striking  Conversion — Point  reached  in 
the  Narrative— School  in  which  the  Prospective  Servant  of  Christ  had 
been  trained — Principal  Agencies  in  his  Conversion  Page  4:3 

CHAPTER  II. 

COMMENCES  HIS  ITINERANT  CAREER. 

General  Conviction  of  the  People — Public  Exercises — Talents  and  Graces  de- 
veloped by  the  Methodist  Economy — Exercises  of  his  Mind  with  reference 
to  the  Ministry — Receives  an  Exhorter's  License — Holds  Meetings — Lo- 
renzo Dow — Leaves  his  Circuit — Young  Hedding  called  out  to  succeed 
him — His  Labours — Rowdies  frightened — A  Furious  Bully — A  Brother 
checked — Perplexed  about  his  Duty — His  First  Sermon — The  Question 
solved — Subsequent  joyful  Experience — The  Retrospect — Called  out  by 
the  Elder — Shadrach  Bostwick — Admitted  on  Trial  in  the  New- York  Con- 
ference— His  Companions — The  Church — Circuits  and  Circuit  Labours — 
Primitive  Presiding  Elders'  Districts — Motives  of  Human  Action — 
These  Men  and  their  Work — The  Standard-Bearers  in  the  New- York 


6 


CONTENTS. 


Conference — Appointed  to  Plattsburgh. — The  Circuit — Discouragements 
— His  Colleague — His  Studies — Thoroughness  of  his  Investigations — An 
Illustration — Abundant  in  Labours — New  Ground  broken  up — Still  An- 
other— Closes  the  Conference  Year  Page  72 

CHAPTER  III. 

LABOUES  ON  FLETCHEE,  BEIDGEWATEE,  AND  HANOVEE  CIECUITS. 

Does  not  attend  the  Conference  of  1802  —  Appointed  to  Fletcher  Circuit  — 
Laban  Clark's  Description  of  it  —  Henry  Kyan — Labours  and  Sufferings 

—  Mode  of  crossing  Rivers  —  Horse  gives  out  —  Walks  half  round  his  Cir- 
cuit—  Personal  and  Ministerial  Characteristics  —  Application  to  Studies 

—  Stackhouse's  History  of  the  Bible  —  His  Colleague  —  Religious  Con- 
dition of  the  People  —  St.  Albans  —  Disciples  of  Thomas  Paine  —  Perse- 
cutions—  Two  Young  Women  whipped  —  A  Novel  Scene  —  Infant  Dam- 
nation —  Anecdotes  of  Early  Methodism  —  Ashgrove  Conference  in  1803 

—  Ashgrove  Society  —  Conference  Services — Ordained  Deacon  —  Ap- 
pointed to  Bridgewater  —  Extent  of  the  Circuit  —  Promising  Indications 

—  Dangerously  Sick — EflFects  on  the  Work  —  Given  over  to  die  —  Re- 
vives —  Attempts  to  resume  his  Work  —  Terrible  Attack  of  Rheumatism  — 
Spiritual  Conflicts  —  Prospect  of  being  a  Cripple  —  Thrice  tried  —  A  Bright 
Example  of  Christian  Charity — Resumes  his  Labours  —  Visits  Saratoga 

—  Incident  on  board  a  Sloop  —  Conference  in  180i  —  Note  to  Bishop 
Asbury — Anecdote  of  Asbury  —  Hanover  Circuit  —  Itinerancy  of  Single 
Men  —  Privileges  of  Study  —  Revolves  his  Plan  —  Studies  English  Gram- 
mar —  Mode  —  Dictionary  of  the  Language  —  Effects  —  Subsequent  Stud- 
ies—  Successes  of  the  Year   96 

CHAPTER  lY. 

ME.  HEDDING  UPON  BAEEE  AND  VEESHIEE  CIECUITS, 

Mr.  Hedding  in  the  New-England  Conference — Leading  Men  of  that  Con- 
ference—  The  Lynn  Session  in  18*35  —  Examination  of  Character  —  Fi- 
nances—  Public  Exercises  —  Progress  of  the  Work  in  New-England  since 
1790  —  Difficulties  and  Opposition  —  Appointed  to  Barre  Circuit  —  Dan 
Young,  his  Colleague  —  Mutual  Assistance  —  Condition  of  the  Circuit  — 
Prosperity  of  the  Work  —  Mr.  Hedding  as  a  Disciplinarian  —  Singular 
Trial  of  his  Skill  —  Obstacles  opposed  to  Methodism  in  Vermont  —  A 
"  Tithing-man  "  in  a  Methodist  Meeting  —  Session  of  the  Conference  for 
1806 — ^Yearly  Change  of  Preachers  in  Early  Times  —  Appointed  to  Vershire 
Circuit  —  Its  Situation  and  Extent  —  Emigration  —  Loss  of  Official  Mem- 
bers—  Theological  Biasses  of  New-England  —  Doctrinal  Discussions  — 
Onset  with  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  —  Results  —  Characteristic  Labours  of 
Methodist  Pioneers  — Tour  of  a  Young  Itinerant  through  Northern  Ver- 


CONTENTS. 


7 


mont  —  Dialogue  with  a  Poor  Woman  —  Powerful  Conversions  —  Mrs. 
Bishop  —  Spirit  and  Agencies  of  the  Methodistic  Revival  —  First  Six 
Years  of  Itinerant  Labour  Page  128 

CHAPTER  V. 

ME.  HEDDING  ON  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 

First  Conference  in  New-England  —  Jesse  Lee's  Mission  to  the  Eastern  States 

—  His  First  Auxiliaries  —  Results  up  to  the  Fifteenth  Anniversary  —  Ses- 
sion of  the  Conference  for  1807  —  Mr.  Hedding  appointed  to  New-Hamp- 
shire District  —  Charles  Virgin  —  One  of  his  Preachers  won  over  to  Calvin- 
ism —  ElFort  to  save  him  —  Temporary  Success  —  Finally  secedes  —  Cause 
of  Withdrawals  —  Inadequacy  of  Support  —  Enormous  Proportion  of  Loca- 
tions — Causes  of  Inadequacy  of  Support  —  Preachers  partly  chargeable  — 
Influence  of  the  same  Causes  at  the  Present  Day  —  Deficiencies  in  the 
New-Hampshire  District  — Mr.  Hedding's  Receipts  — His  Conflicts  of 
Mind  — Finds  an  Associate  of  his  Youth— A  Temptation  overcome  — 
A  Singular  Charge  preferred  against  him  at  Conference  —  The  Dispo- 
sition made  of  it  —  Results  to  the  person  preferring  it  —  Session  of  the 
Conference  for  180S  —  Returned  to  New-Hampshire  District  —  Elected  a 
Delegate  to  the  Geneval  Conference  —  Session  of  the  General  Conference  — 
Question  of  a  Delegated  General  Conference  —  Failure  of  the  Plan  by  the 
Opposition  of  the  Middle  Conferences  —  Excitement  and  Dissatisfaction 
 Mr.  Hedding's  Labours  to  prevent  a  Rupture  —  The  Subject  recon- 
sidered—  The  Plan  adopted  —  Dr.  Bangs's  Remarks  upon  it  —  Proposed 
Increase  of  the  Number  of  Bishops — Conference  determines  to  elect 
one  only  —  M'Kendree  elected  and  ordained  —  Close  of  the  Conference  — 
Mr.  Hedding  returns  to  his  District  —  Jesse  Lee  revisits  New-England — 
His  Remarks  on  Pews  —  His  Character  drawn  by  Rev.  A.  Stevens  —  An 
Admirable  Pioneer —  His  First  Labours  —  Present  Condition  of  the  Work 

—  A  Triumphal  Tour  — The  Parting  Pledge   155 

CHAPTER  VI. 

ME.  HEDDING  ON  NEW-LONDON  DISTRICT. 

Session  of  the  Conference  for  1809 — Mr.  Hedding  appointed  to  the  New- 
London  District— Preachers  on  the  District — Its  Extent — Camp-meeting 
— First  one  on  the  District — Solicitude — Wonderful  Display  of  Divine 
Power — Five  Hundred  prostrate  on  the  Earth — Results — Mr.  Hedding's 
Marriage — Sketch  of  Miss  Lucy  Blish,  afterward  Mrs.  Hedding — Her 
Parents — Early  Education — Early  Religious  Impressions — Perplexed  by 
Calvinism — Visits  a  Sister  within  the  Bounds  of  Plattsburgh  Circuit — 
Hears  Methodist  Preaching — Is  converted  and  joins  the  Church — Returns 
Home — Her  Parents  converted — A  New  Society  raised  up — Mr.  Hedding's 


8 


CONTENTS. 


First  Acquaintance  with  her — Their  Marriage — Survives  him — Mr.  Hed- 
ding  takes  up  his  Residence  in  Winchester,  N.  H. — Reviews  his  Pecuniary- 
Profits  and  Losses  as  a  Single  Man — The  Session  of  the  Conference  at 
Winchester — How  provided  for — Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree — ^Re- 
turned to  the  District — Preachers  with  him — Removes  to  Ludlow,  Mass. — 
Attempt  to  warn  him  out  of  Town — ^Employed  by  the  Town  on  his  Vacant 
Sabbaths — Invited  by  the  Town  to  become  the  Settled  Pastor — Declines — 
Subsequent  Occasional  Thoughts — Mr.  Newhall's  "  Rich  and  Refreshing 
Meditations  "  when  forcing  his  Way  through  Snow-drifts — Horse  dis- 
abled— Travels  on  Foot — An  Attack  of  Rheumatism — Crippled  Condition 
— A  Wayside  Incident — A  Singular  Sweat — Unexpected  Restoration — 
Conference  approaching— Remarks  upon  his  Ten  Years'  Labour— Diffi- 
culties encountered  by  Methodism— Its  Great  Successes— Progress  of 
the  Work  on  the  District — Camp-meeting — Summation  at  the  Close  of 
the  Year  Page  182 


CHAPTER  YII. 

LABOUES  IN  BOSTON,  NANTUCKET,  AND  LYNN  STATIONS. 

New-England  Conference  for  1811 — ^Mr.  Hedding  a  Delegate  to  the 

General  Conference — Appointed  to  Boston — Labours —The  Embaro-o  

Pecuniary  Embarrassments  of  the  People — Spiritual  Prosperity  Con- 
version of  E.  T.  Taylor — Mr.  Hedding's  Colleague,  Rev.  E.  Ti.  Sabin — 
The  First  Delegated  General  Conference — The  Presiding-Elder  Question 
— The  Question  in  the  General  Conference  of  1808 — In  1812— Its  Sub- 
sequent History — The  Question  in  1816 — Dr.  Bangs's  Account  of  the 
Discussion — The  Question  in  1820 — The  Compromise — Protest  of  Rev. 
Joshua  Soule,  Bishop  Elect — Protest  of  Bishop  M'Kendree — Attempt  to 
reconsider  fails — The  Rule  suspended — Finally  rescinded — Mr.  Hed- 
ding's Views — Change  of  his  Opinion — Final  Record  of  his  Opinions  on 
the  Subject — The  Question  of  Reserve  Delegates — Surviving  Members 
of  this  Conference — Session  of  the  New-England  Conference — War 
declared — Apprehended  Evils — Mr.  Hedding  appointed  to  Nantucket — 
Origin  of  the  Society  here — Rev.  George  Cannon — Evil  Results  of  Locat- 
ing— Mr.  Hedding's  Reception  on  the  Island — Excitement  among  the 
Islanders — Losses  by  the  War — Condition  of  the  People— State  for  the 
Church — Pastoral  Labours — A  Happy  Convert— The  Conference  for  1813 
—State  of  the  Work— Death  of  one  of  Mr.  Hedding's  Early  Associates — 
Thomas  Branch — Character  and  Labours — Departs  for  the  West — Death 
— Mr.  Hedding  discovers  his  Grave  in  1826 — His  Letter— Stationed  at 
Lynn  Common — Removal — Privations  and  Sufferings  of  the  People — 
His  Sympathy  and  Labours  for  them — His  Colleague — Results  of  the 
Year — Returned  to  Lynn  in  1814 — Labours  of  the  Year — Detained  from 
Conference  by  a  Revival   206 


CONTENTS. 


9 


CHAPTEK  YIII. 

LABOURS  IN  BOSTON,  POKTLAND,  LYNN,  AND  NEW-LONDON. 

Conference  of  1815 — Bishop  Asbury — His  Feebleness  —  Subsequent  La- 
bours— Death  —  Conference  Business  —  ]Mr.  Hedding  elected  Delegate 
to  the  General  Conference  —  Stationed  in  Boston  —  Daniel  Fillmore, 
his  Colleague — Their  mutual  Attachment  —  An  Amusing  Anecdote, 
or  "Shallow  Preaching"  —  State  of  Religion  in  the  City  —  Niece  of 
Hancock  converted  —  General  Conference  of  1816 — Session  of  the 
New-England  Conference  at  Bristol  —  Mr.  Hedding  and  his  Colleague 
returned  to  Boston  —  Debt  on  the  Churches — Noble  and  Successful 
Effort  to  liquidate  it  —  A  Bequest  to  the  Churches  —  Methodism  plant- 
ed in  Dorchester  —  Also  in  Charlestown  —  Prosperity  in  Boston  —  Con- 
ference in  1817  —  Progress  of  Methodism  —  Stationed  in  Portland  — 
State  of  the  Society — Conference  in  1818  —  Mr.  Hedding  in  Lynn  — 
Member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1820  — Stationed  in  New-London 
—  Disorganized  Condition  of  the  Society  —  Character  and  End  of  the 
Disorderly — Health  fails  —  Reaches  Conference  Page  242 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ME.  HEDDING  ON  BOSTON  DISTEICT  AND  IN  BOSTON— FROM  1821 
TO  1824. 

Boston  District— An  Inhospitable  Methodist — State  of  the  Work — Camp- 
meetings — Conference  at  Bath — Stationed  in  Boston — Mr.  Hedding's 
Conference  Sermon — Measures  to  establish  Zion's  Herald — Mr.  Hed- 
ding's Colleague,  Ephraim  Wiley — Conference  of  1823 — Returned  to 
Boston — Colleague — John  Liudsey — Review  of  Mr.  Hedding's  Labours — 
Progress  of  Methodism — Elements  of  its  Success — 1.  Revival  of  the  Old 
Doctrines  of  Christianity — 2.  Appeal  to  Man's  Consciousness  of  his 
Relations  to  God — 3.  A  Conscious  Personal  Salvation — 1.  Individualizing 
Characteristics  of  Methodist  Preaching — 5.  Peculiar  Provisions  of  Or- 
ganic Methodism — Perpetuity  of  these  Elements — Confidence  reposed  in 
Mr.  Hedding  by  his  Brethren   267 


CHAPTER  X. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1824,  AND  MR.  HEDDING'S  ELECTION 
TO  THE  EPISCOPACY. 

Representation  in  the  General  Conference  —  British  Delegation  —  Address 
of  the  Bishops — Educational  Demands  upon  the  Church  —  Religious 
Education  of  the  Children  —  Seminaries  and  Public  Schools  —  Mission- 


10 


CONTENTS. 


ary  Society — Book  Concern  —  Slavery  and  the  **  Tenth  Section  "  —  Me- 
morials on  Lay  Delegation — Action  of  the  Conference  —  Reasons  as- 
signed—  The  Presiding-Elder  Question  —  Ballotings  for  Bishops  —  Mr. 
Hedding's  Election  —  His  Reluctance  to  being  a  Candidate  —  Rev.  E. 
Mudge's  Account — Feelings  after  Election  —  Subsequent  Resolution  of 
the  Conference  —  Accepts  the  Office  and  is  ordained  —  Fitness  for  the 
Office  Page  292 


CHAPTER  XI. 

FIEST  QUADEENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUE. 

Division  of  Episcopal  Labour  —  Bishops  George  and  Hedding  attend  the 
New-York  Conference  —  Bishop  Hedding  makes  Lynn  his  Residence  — 
New-England  Conference  —  Joshua  Randle  —  Bishop  George's  Opinion  of 
his  Colleague  —  Genesee  Conference  —  Cazenovia  Seminary — Proposed 
Tour  in  Canada  —  Excitement  there  —  Rate  of  Travel  —  Incident  in 
Toronto  —  Hardships — A  Log-cabin  Tavern  —  Difficulties  compromised 

—  Henry  Ryan  —  Close  of  Conference  —  Progress  of  the  Church  during 
the  Year  —  Sickness  —  A  Hard  Ride  —  Reaches  Home  in  March  —  Diffi- 
culties of  Travel  —  Starts  for  Philadelphia  —  Desponding  Letter  —  Phila- 
delphia, New- York,  New-England,  and  Maine  Conferences  —  State  of  the 
Work  in  Maine  —  Journey  to  Northern  New- York  —  Letter  to  his  Wife 

—  Genesee  Conference — Canada  Conference  —  Progress  of  the  Work  — 
Summation  for  the  Year  —  Returns  Home  —  A  Wayside  Incident  —  Win- 
ter of  1825-6  —  Meeting  of  the  Bishops  in  Baltimore  —  Failure  to  ap- 
point a  Delegate  to  the  British  Conference  —  Philadelphia  and  New- 
York  Conferences  —  Genesee  Conference  —  Letter  to  his  Wife  —  Pitts- 
burgh Conference —  The  "Radical  Movement"  —  Mr.  Hedding's  Address 
to  the  Conference  —  Plain  Talk  in  the  Cabinet  —  Changes  two  Presiding 
Elders  —  Letter  to  Mrs.  Hedding  —  The  Ohio  Conference  —  Return  to 
Lynn  —  Results  of  another  Year  —  Starts  again  —  A  Letter  —  Philadel- 
phia and  New- York  Conferences  —  Difficulties  in  Stationing  Preachers  — 
An  Illustrative  Instance  —  The  True  Course  for  a  Young  Preacher  —  New- 
England  Conference  —  Fever  and  Ague  —  Journey  to  Portland  —  Maine 
Conference  —  Journey  Westward  —  The  Canada  Conference  —  Prevailing 
Drought  —  Sickness  of  Preachers  —  Visits  the  Indian  Mission  Stations  in 
Canada — Interesting  Anecdotes  of  Converted  Indians  —  Reading  the  Tes- 
tament without  learning  the  Letters  —  Indians  at  Rice  Lake  —  Visit  to 
Grape  Island  —  Bark  Canoe  —  Novel  Mode  of  Landing  —  Captain  Beaver 

—  Preaches  to  the  Indians  —  Sermon  of  Peter  Jones  —  Church  Labour 
with  an  Erring  Brother  —  Curious  Questions  —  Estimate  of  the  Work 
among  the  Indians  —  Journey  to  Troy  —  Dedicates  State-street  Church 
— Reaches  Home — End  of  the  Year — Maine  Wesleyan  Seminary — Bishop 
Hedding's  Interest  in  our  Educational  Movements   305 


CONTENTS. 


11 


CHAPTEK  Xn. 

SECOND  QUADEENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUES. 

Goes  to  the  General  Conference  —  Doubts  about  the  Duty  of  Continuing 
in  the  OflBce  —  The  General  Conference — Progress  of  the  "Radical 
Movement"  —  Changes  sought  for  —  The  "Union  Society"  —  "Mutual 
Rights" — Dr.  Bond's  "Appeal"  —  Church  Trials  in  Baltimore  —  Me- 
morial to  the  General  Conference  —  Report  of  the  Committee  —  Asa 
Shinn  moves  its  Adoption  —  Xine-tenths  of  the  People  opposed  to  the 
proposed  Change  —  Bishop  Hedding  misrepresented  in  the  "  Mutual 
Rights"  by  "Timothy" — Seeks  Redress  —  "Timothy's"  Anonymous 
Certificates  —  Bishop  Hedding  brings  the  Matter  before  the  General  Con- 
ference —  Action  of  the  Committee  on  the  Episcopacy  —  Testimony  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Delegation  —  Confession  of  Rev.  George  Brown,  the  Real 
"  Timothy  "  —  Triumphant  Vindication  of  the  Bishop  —  Progress  of  the 
"Work  during  the  Four  Years  —  Close  of  the  General  Conference  —  Route 
to  New- York — Perils  upon  Lake  Erie  —  Parts  with  Bishop  George  for 
the  Last  Time  —  Their  Association  and  Attachment  —  Dr.  Bangs's  Por- 
traiture of  the  Character  of  Bishop  George  —  Outline  of  his  Life  and 
Labours  —  Responsibility  that  had  rested  on  Bishop  Hedding  —  Route 
into  New-England  —  Perilous  Accident — Visit  to  Canada — The  Inde- 
pendent Organization  of  the  Canada  Conference  completed  —  A  Dying 
Father's  Charge  to  his  Son  to  maintain  "  the  Family  Altar"  —  The  Re- 
sult —  Close  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Year  —  Progress  of  the  Work  —  Increase 
in  the  Church  during  the  "Radical  Movement"  —  Prophesied  Ruin  of 
the  Church  not  realized  —  Bishop  Hedding  spends  the  Winter  of  182S-9 
in  Lynn  —  Sermon  on  Dancing  —  Philadelphia,  Xew-York,  and  Xew- 
England  Conferences  for  1829  —  Excitement  on  Masonry  —  Maine  Confer- 
ence—  Tour  of  Visitation  to  the  Churches  —  Refused  Entertainment  by 
a  Wealthy  Methodist  Page  350 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SECOND  QUADEENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUES— CONCLUDED. 

Conferences  for  the  Spring  of  1830  —  Visits  the  Oneida  Indian  Mission  — 
Sermon  to  the  Indians  —  Journeys  Westward  —  Review  of  Labours  — 
A  Week's  Rest  —  Visit  to  Canada  —  Reaches  Home  after  Xine  Months' 
Absence  —  Summation  for  the  Year  —  Baltimore  Conference  in  ]  831  — 
—  A  "Located  Itinerant"  —  Submits  to  a  Surgical  Operation  —  Confer- 
ences attended  this  Spring  —  Leaves  Home  on  a  Western  and  South- 
em  Tour  —  Letter  to  his  Wife  —  Genesee  Conference  —  Christian  Hos- 
pitality V8.  Hospitality  to  Office  —  A  Cold  Reception  —  Quartered  among 
Apprentice  Boys  —  Pittsburgh  Conference — Journey  to  Mansfield,  Ohio 
1* 


12 


CONTENTS. 


—  Adventures  with  a  Preacher  who  had  "Time  enough  yet"  —  Meets 
the  Kentucky  Conference  at  Louisville — Journey  from  Louisville  to 
East  Tennessee  —  Reaches  Athens  —  Eebuke  of  a  Pompous  Young  Man 

—  Holston  Conference  —  Visits  the  Cherokee  Nation  —  State  of  Society, 
&c.  —  Encounter  with  a  Watch-Dog  —  Travels  in  Georgia  —  A  Slave 
Auction  —  The  Georgia  Conference  —  South-Carolina  Conference  —  Con- 
versation with  a  Negro  on  the  Ptoanoke  —  Hospitality  of  a  Tavern- 
keeper —  Virginia  Conference  —  Philadelphia  Conference  —  Arrives  at 
the  Seat  of  the  General  Conference  —  Progress  of  the  Work  during  the 
Four  Years  —  Educational  Movement  —  Colleges  —  Seminaries  —  Mis- 
sions—  Among  the  Slaves  —  Liberia  —  Indian  Missions  —  In  Canada  — 
At  Green  Bay  — E,ev.  John  Clark  — The  Wyandots  —  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley 

—  Visit  to  the  East  with  Indians  —  Choctaws  —  Cherokees  —  Death 
of  Ministers  Page  377 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

THIED  QUADEENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUES. 

General  Conference  of  1832  —  Representation  —  Character  of  the  Session 

—  Two  Bishops  elected  —  Bishop  Hedding's  Purpose  to  resign  —  Action 
of  the  New-York  and  New-England  Delegates  —  He  yields  to  their 
Judgment  —  The  New- York  Conference  —  Its  Division  —  Law  Questions 

—  A  Question  proposed  —  New-England  Conference  —  Ravages  of  the 
Cholera  —  Aspect  in  New-York  City  —  The  People  rushing  from  the 
City — Passage  up  the  Hudson  —  Reflections  —  Note:  Distressing  Case 
of  a  Widow  and  her  Son  —  Letter  to  Bishop  Roberts  —  Oneida  Con- 
ference—  Genesee  —  Efforts  to  reach  the  Canada  Conference  —  Fails  — 
Alarming  Symptoms  —  Reaches  Home  —  State  of  his  Feelings  —  Statis- 
tics of  the  Year — Presides  over  the  Virginia  Conference  in  1833  —  A 
Few  Days  in  Washington  —  Idea  of  the  City — Old  Age  an  Incurable 
Disease  —  Conferences  attended  —  A  Great  Dinner  —  The  Meeting  of 
Old  Friends  —  Prosperity  of  the  Oneida  Conference  —  Completes  his 
Conference  Visitation  for  the  Year  —  Tax  upon  his  Distinction  as  an 
Expounder  of  Ecclesiastical  Law  —  Prosperity  of  the  Church  —  The 
Oregon  Mission — Educational  Interests  —  Conference  Labours  for  1834 

—  Death  of  two  Fellow-labourers  —  The  Labours  of  a  Bishop  —  Ques- 
tion involving  the  Administration  of  Presiding  Elders  —  The  Course  of 
Study  for  Candidates  in  the  Ministry  —  Action  of  the  Bishops  assailed 

—  Letter  of  Bishop  Emory  —  A  Singular  Question  affecting  the  Mar- 
riage Relation  of  Slaves  —  Progress  of  the  Church  —  Conferences  in 
1835  —  Development  of  our  Ecclesiastical  Jurisprudence  —  Question 
upon  electing  Committees  on  Trials  —  Death  of  Bishop  M'Kendree 

—  Sudden  Death  of  Bishop  Emory  —  Returns  of  Members  —  Incident 
upon  Long  Island  Sound  —  Attends  the  Virginia  and  Baltimore  Confer- 
ences —  Progress  of  the  Church  during  the  four  Preceding  Years   410 


CONTENTS. 


18 


CHAPTER  XV^' 

FOFETH  QUADKEX^sIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUES. 

General  Conference  of  1836  —  Representation  —  Death  of  M'Kendree  and  Em- 
ory—  Address  of  Bishops  Roberts  and  Hedding — Hedding's  Remark  upon 
the  Administration  of  Discipline  —  Election  of  three  Bishops  —  Ordination 
of  Messrs.  Waugh  and  Morris  —  Vote  relating  to  Bishops  Roberts  and  Hed- 
ding—  Sundry  Measures  —  Adjournment  —  Bishop  Heddiug's  Labours  for 
the  twelve  past  Years  —  Conferences  met  during  this  Year  —  Statistical 
Returns  —  Causes  assigned  for  declension  —  True  causes  —  Bishop  Hedding 
removes  from  Lynn  to  Lansingburgh,  X.  Y.  —  Note  made  at  the  close  of 
the  Year's  Labour  —  Conferences  met  in  1837 — -An  Increase  reported  this 
Year  —  Import  of  Questions  propounded  to  Candidates  for  Deacon  and 
Elder's  Orders  —  Labours  of  1838 — Visits  the  Grave  of  Benjamin  Abbott 

—  Protracted  Sessions  of  the  New-York  and  New-England  Conferences  — 
"Visits  the  Northern  New-York  Conferences  —  Progress  of  the  Church 
this  Year  —  Conferences  attended  in  1839  —  Exhaustion  —  Misses  old 
Friends  —  Influence  upon  him  —  Anti-Slavery  Excitement  —  Course  he 
felt  obliged  to  pursue  —  Prosperity  of  the  Church  —  Close  of  the  Fourth 
Quadrennial  of  his  Labours  —  Some  Reflections  —  Death  of  Ministers 
during  the  four  Years — Mr.  Hedding's  old  Associates  —  John  Brodhead 

—  Martin  Ruter  —  Oliver  Beale — Wilbur  Fisk  —  The  Dying  Testimonies 

—  Substantial  Prosperity  of  the  Church — Embarrassment  from  Locations 
—Vitality  of  the  Methodist  System  Page  448 

CHAPTER  XYI. 

BISHOP  HEDDING  AND  THE  ABOLITION  CONTEOVEESY. 

T3ie  Anti-Slavery  Agitation  —  Movements  of  Rev.  Orange  Scott  during  the 
CJonference  Year  1834-5  —  Anti-Slavery  feeling  in  New-England  and 
Northern  New- York  —  Stand-point  from  which  Bishop  Hedding  contem- 
plated the  Movement  —  Anticipation  of  evil  results  —  Feels  it  his  Duty 
to  oppose  Ultra  Measures  —  Gives  countenance  to  the  "  Counter  Appeal " 

—  Anti-Slavery  Sentiments  expressed  in  that  Appeal — Difficult  position 
of3ishop  Hedding  —  His  Pastoral  Letter  to  the  New-England  and  New- 
Hampshire  Conferences— Its  effect  —  Its  treatment  by  the  Ultraists  — 
Newspaper  Discussions  — General  Conference  of  1836  —  The  Pastoral 
Address  —  Disapprobation  of  the  Measures  employed  by  Abolitionists  — 
Avoid  electing  a  Slaveholding  Bishop  —  Extremists  on  both  sides  dis- 
satisfied—  Binding  force  of  the  General  Conference  action  upon  the 
Bishops  —  Bishop  Hedding  at  the  New-England  Conference  in  1836  — 
Declines  reappointing  0.  Scott  to  the  Presiding  Eldership  —  Proposed 
Action  on  Slavery — His  Administration  assailed — New-Hampshire  Con- 
ference —  G.  Storrs  proposed  for  Presiding  Elder  —  The  Bishop  converses 


14 


CONTENTS. 


with  him — Declines  to  appoint  him  —  Painful  feelings  —  New-England 
Conference  for  1837  —  Calls  the  attention  of  the  body  to  the  misrepre- 
sentations of  0.  Scott  —  Note:  Letter  from  Bishop  Hedding  to  Rev.  0. 
Scott  —  The  Settlement  —  O.Scott's  retractions  —  Note:  Previous  at- 
tempt at  Adjustment :  -written  statement  of  T.  Merritt,  D.  Fillmore,  and 
T.  C.  Peirce  —  Events  at  the  New-Hampshire  Conference  —  Blsliop  Bed- 
ding's Vindication  of  his  Administration  —  His  celebrated  "  Golden-Rule 
Argument  in  favour  of  Slavery,"  aud  what  it  amounts  to  —  An  Unpar- 
donable Sin  —  Ruling  of  Presiding  Elders  —  Character  of  some  of  the 
Resolutions  — Rev.  0.  Scott  in  the  Field  — His  offences  against  Bishop 
Hedding  repeated  —  A  few  Extracts  from  his  published  Letters  —  Charges 
preferred  against  Rev.  0.  Scott  before  the  New-England  Conference  — 
Decisions  of  the  Conference  —  Trial  of  La  Roy  Sunderland  —  Mr.  Hed- 
ding looks  to  the  General  Conference  for  redress  —  Incident  at  the  close 
of  the  New-England  Conference  —  Rev.  0.  Scott's  ex  parte  statement  of 
the  Trial  —  Action  in  the  New-Hampshire  Conference  —  Letter  from 
Bishop  Morris  —  Letter  from  Bishop  Hedding  in  relation  to  the  Trials  of 
Scott  and  Sunderland  —  Subsequent  misrepresentation  and  ill-treatment 
received  by  Bishop  Hedding  —  An  Apologetic  Remark  concerning  the 
Ultraists  —  Light  in  which  Bishop  Hedding's  Administration  is  to 
be  interpreted  —  Subject  brought  up  to  the  General  Conference  of 
1810  Pa-e  480 


CHAPTEK  XVII. 

THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1840,  AND  THE  FIFTH  QUADREN- 
NIAL OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUR. 

General  Conference  of  1840  —  Representation  —  Bishop's  Address  —  Views 
of  Constitutional  Powers  —  Government  of  the  Church  —  Appeal  of 
Rev.  D.  Dorchester  —  Action  in  relation  to  the  Prerogatives  of  Bishops 
and  Presiding  Elders  as  Presiding  OflBcers  —  Bishop  Hedding's  Com- 
munication in  relation  to  the  Trials  of  0.  Scott  and  La  Roy  Sunderland  — 
Private  Adjustment  by  the  Delegates  —  Magnanimity  of  Bishop  Hedding 
— Another  instance  —  Speech  upon  striking  out  the  Censure  of  the 
New-England  Conference  —  His  counsel  prevails  —  The  Question  on  the 
Testimony  of  Coloured  Persons  —  Dr.  Few's  Resolution  —  Tie  Vote 
upon  its  consideration — Bishop  Hedding  declines  to  give  the  Casting 
Vote — Shows  that  a  Bishop  has  no  Constitutional  Right  to  Vote — 
Pastoral  Address  —  Close  of  the  Conference  —  Annual  Conferences  — 
Michigan  —  Ohio  —  Dedicates  Bedford-street  Church  in  New-York  city 
—  Close  of  the  Year  —  Dedication  of  John-street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  —  Conferences  of  1841  —  Address  on  the  Administration  of  Dis- 
cipline—  Address  before  the  New- Jersey  Conference  on  Christian  Perfec- 
tion—Results for  the  Year  — Conferences  of  1842  —  The  Resolution  pro- 
posed about  Transfers  in  the  New-Hampshire  Conference — Address 
upon  "Man's  Natural  Ability,"  &c.  — Residence  at  Saratoga  —  Great  fall 


CONTENTS. 


15 


of  Snow  —  A  hard  Sleigh-ride  —  Conferences  of  184:3  —  Death  of  Bishop 
Roberts  —  Condition  of  the  Work  in  the  Eastern  Conferences  —  Letter 
to  his  Wife  —  Missionary  Cause  —  Removes  to  Poughkeepsie  —  Unprece- 
dented Increase  of  Members  in  the  Church — Spring  of  1844  Page  537 


CHAPTER  XVm. 

SIXTH  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUE. 

General  Conference  of  1844  —  Representation  —  Slavery  Agitation  —  The 
Harding  Case  —  Case  of  Bishop  Andrew  —  Intensity  of  Feeling  excited 

—  Proposition  of  the  Bishops  to  suspend  Action  —  Objections  in  the 
Minds  of  Northern  Delegates  —  Bishop  Hedding  withdraws  his  Name  — 
Assigns  his  Reasons  —  Remarks  of  Bishops  Waugh  and  Morris  —  The 
Communication  laid  on  the  Table  —  Passage  of  Finley's  Resolution  — 
Eventual  Separation  of  the  Southern  Conferences  —  Resolution  relating 
to  Bishop  Hedding's  Labours  —  Election  and  Consecration  of  Bishops 
Hamline  and  Janes  —  Close  of  the  Session  —  Conference  Labours  — 
Changed  Views  of  Brethren  alienated  in  the  Abolition  Controversy — ■ 
Invitation  to  fix  his  Residence  again  in  New-England  —  Conference  La- 
bours in  1845  — Death  of  three  Ministers  — Action  of  the  Bishops  in 
Relatioji  to  giving  Bishop  Andrew  work  —  Bishop  Soule  calls  Bishop 
Andrew  out  —  His  Allusion  to  his  Colleagues  —  Southern  Organization 
completed — Bishops  Soule  and  Andrew  connected  with  it  —  Action  of 
the  Bishops  remaining  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  —  Conference 
Labours  in  1846  —  A  Scene  in  the  New- York  Conference  —  Church  Diffi- 
culties in  Relation  to  John  N.  Maffitt  —  Question  of  Jurisdiction  —  Bishop 
Hedding's  Decision  —  Animadversions  upon  that  Decision  —  General 
Conference  approves  it  —  Church  Statistics  —  Spring  of  1847  —  New- 
England  Conference  —  Address  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Death  of  George 
Pickering  and  Joel  Steele — Further  Labours — Providence  Conference 
in  1848   587 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

SEVENTH  QUADEENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUR. 

General  Conference  of  1848  —  Bishop  Hedding  requested  to  prepare  some 
Biographical  Sketch  of  himself — His  Views  on  the  Pastorship  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  —  Appointed  Delegate  to  the  British  Wes- 
leyan  Conference  —  Feeble  Health — Rev.  Manning  Force  accompanies 
bira  —  Revives  an  Acquaintance  with  an  old  Friend  —  Sermon  before  the 
New-Hampshire  Conference  —  Visit  on  part  of  an  old  Circuit  —  Vermont 
Conference  at  Barre  —  Maine  and  East  Maine  Conferences  —  Conferences 
in  1849  — The  old  Cambridge  Circuit— The  Bishop's  Notes  of  Travel,  &c. 

—  A  strong  Christian — His  singular  Death  —  Sunday  Labours — Attends 


X6 


CONTENTS. 


the  Funeral  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Merrill  —  Sick  —  First  failure  in  Twenty-five 
Years  to  meet  his  Conferences — Travels  in  1850  —  Remarks  upon  his 
Notes  of  Travel  —  Views  about  Preaching  —  Comparison  of  Methodism 
■with  the  Former  Time — Zeal  of  the  Early  Methodists  —  Class-meetings 
—  Novel  case  of  proving  the  Mind  —  Compliment  to  a  Sermon  —  Success 
of  Methodist  Agencies  Fage  614 


CHAPTER  XX. 

LAST  HOUKS  OF  BISHOP  HEDDING. 


Bishop  Hedding  viewed  in  a  New  Scene  —  First  Attack  of  Acute  Disease  — 
Second  Attack  —  Hopes  —  Their  Disappointment  —  State  of  his  Mind  — 
Assailed  by  Satan  —  Record  of  God's  Mercy  —  Notes  taken  of  his  Expe- 
rience and  Remarks  —  Gradual  Decline  —  Conversations  during  the  Last 
Months  of  his  Life  —  Expression  of  his  Feelings  to  Rev.  Mr.  Ferris  — 
Last  Public  Exercise  —  Infirmities  increased — Draws  up  his  Will — Una- 
bated Interest  in  the  Church  —  Prospect  of  seeing  and  knowing  Friends 
in  Heaven  —  Interest  in  Prayer — Views  on  leaving  the  Church  on  E-arth 
—Last  Sacrament  — His  Trust  in  the  Midst  of  Distress  — A  Daj  of  Suf- 
fering and  of  Triumph  —  Terrible  bodily  Condition  —  Wonderful  Grace 
— Visited  by  Bishop  Janes  and  Dr.  Peck  — The  Closing  Scene  — Funeral 
Services  —  Epitaph  upon  his  Monument   637 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

ESTIMATE   OF   THE    CHAEACTER   AND   SERVICES   OF  BISHOP 
HEDDING. 


Concluding  our  Work  —  Bodily  Appearance  of  Bishop  Hedding  —  Habits 
and  Manner  of  Life  —  Social  Qualities  —  Care  of  the  Feelings  and  Repu- 
tation of  Others — A  Keen  Observer  of  Human  Character  —  Cast  of  his 
Intellect  —  His  Literary  and  Scientific  Attainments  —  Character  as  a 
Divine  —  Character  as  a  Preacher  —  Character  as  a  Presiding  Officer  and 
an  Expounder  of  Ecclesiastical  Law  —  Tone  and  Character  of  his  Piety  — 
General  Excellence  and  Harmony  of  Character  —  Results  witnessed  in 
his  Life  and  Labours  — His  Memory   665 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  truthful  biography  of  eminent  Christian  ministers 
whom  death  has  removed,  so  far  replaces  those  golden 
candlesticks  that  by  reflection,  at  least,  they  continue 
to  mingle  their  holy  radiance  with  the  effulgence  of 
that  Church  which  is  "  the  light  of  the  world."  By 
its  office,  therefore,  such  being  dead,  yet  speak, — • 
being  absent  in  body,  they  are  retained  with  us  in 
spirit, — though  entered  into  rest,  they  are  made  to 
reenact  before  us  the  blessed  activities  and  glorious 
triumphs  of  their  probationary  state.  Its  office  is, 
therefore,  most  interesting  and  important.  It  in- 
creases the.  moral  wealth  of  the  Church,  by  wresting 
those  bright  examples  of  Christian  excellence  from 
the  oblivious  power  of  death,  and  constellating  them, 
with  all  their  heavenly  lustre  and  winning  loveliness, 
before  the  world.  It  augments  the  spiritual  strength 
of  the  Church,  by  showing  the  timid  and  fearful, 
among  her  struggling  hosts,  how  others  of  like  pas- 
sions, encompassed  with  the  same  infirmities,  and 
conflicting  with  the  same  "  principalities  and  powers," 
have  overcome  by  grace,  and  by  faith  have  even 
triumphed  over  the  "last  enemy;"  thus  demonstra- 
ting to  them  the  possibility  of  their  becoming  more 


18 


INTRODUCTION. 


than  conquerors  through  "  Him  that  has  loved  them," 
and  animating  them  to  continue  the  "  good  fight." 

It  has  edified  the  ministry  of  the  Church,  by 
placing  before  them,  for  their  imitation  and  encour- 
agement, examples  of  ministerial  excellence,  of  pas- 
toral fidelity,  of  cheerful  sacrifice,  of  patient  toil,  of 
many  sufferings,  of  holy  living,  and  of  happy  dying. 
The  biographical  notices  of  the  apostles,  and  of  their 
contemporary  labourers,  furnished  by  the  New  Tes- 
tament Scriptures,  are  full  of  holy  inspirings.  The 
heroic  devotion  of  St.  Paul  has  exerted  a  powerful 
influence  upon  the  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ  in  all 
ages.  So  also  with  the  eminent  servants  of  Christ  in 
later  times.  Who  has  ever  contemplated  the  intrepid 
spirit  and  valiant  conduct  of  Martin  Luther,  when  he 
braved  the  fury  of  an  enraged  and  unscrupulous 
priesthood,  the  wrath  of  crowned  heads,  and  the 
thunders  of  the  Yatican,  that  he  might  vindicate  the 
truth  of  God,  and  reform  a  corrupt  Church, — and  not 
felt  a  holy  heroism  stirring  within  him,  inspiring  him 
with  something  of  the  same  moral  grandeur  of  char- 
acter? And  who,  through  their  memoirs,  has  made 
himself  acquainted  with  the  spirit,  the  lives,  and 
labours  of  the  Wesleys,^ — their  enlightened  and  fer- 
vent piety,  their  crucifixion  to  the  world,  their 
oneness  of  purpose,  their  ardent  and  inextinguish- 
able zeal,  their  able  and  eloquent  ministry,  and 
their  stupendous  and  glorious  achievements, — with- 
out having  his  whole  soul  moved  with  a  desire  to 
imitate  their  piety,  their  devotion,  and  their  zeal? 
Who  has  ever  reflected  upon  the  missionary  ser- 
vices and  martyr  sacrifices  of  a  Brainerd,  a  Martyn, 
a  Carey,  and  a  Cox,  without  feeling  a  missionary 


INTRODUCTION. 


19 


fire  kindling  in  liis  heart,  burning  in  Lis  rery  bones, 
and  nerving  his  soul  with  the  determination  to  have 
some  agency  in  the  gi'eat  work  of  evangelizing  the 
world  ?  Or,  who  has  ever  brought  home  to  his 
own  heart  the  fragrant  memory  and  reviewed  the 
spiritual  lives  of  such  devout  and  holy  men  as 
John  Fletcher,  Edward  Payson,  and  Wilbm-  Fisk, 
and  not  felt  himself  in  a  garden  of  spices,  where 
all  his  senses  were  regaled,  as  it  were,  with  celes- 
tial odours?  The  glorious  illustrations  of  the  pu- 
rity and  power  of  Christianity,  exhumed  by  biog- 
raphy from  the  tomb  of  time,  and  held  up  before 
the  Church,  form  a  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and  of 
fire  by  night,  to  direct,  enlighten,  and  encourage  the 
Israel  of  God  in  their  journeyings  to  the  heavenly 
Canaan. 

One  of  the  elements  of  the  interest,  power,  and 
usefulness  of  Christian  biography  is  its  variety.  Hu- 
man charactei-s  and  experiences  are  almost  endlessly 
diversified.  Every  man  has  his  peculiarities.  His 
physical  peculiarities  give  him  his  identity  of  person  ; 
his  mental  and  moral  peculiarities  his  identity  of  char- 
acter ;  and  his  peculiar  exercises  of  mind  and  of  body 
his  identity  of  history.  The  faithful  biographer  da- 
guerreotypes all  these  peculiarities,  and  exhibits  each 
individual  in  the  special  characteristics  of  his  person, 
his  character,  and  his  life.  His  powers,  however, 
vastly  transcend  those  of  the  artist.  The  pictures  he 
draws  are  instinct  with  life,  intelligence,  and  love. 
Does  the  sculptor  "make  the  marble  speak?"  With 
his  statue  the  biographer  does  more:  it  breathes 
and  moves,  it  speaks  and  acts,  it  sacrifices  and  sufi'ers, 
it  illustrates  great  virtues  and  performs  noble  deeds. 


20 


INTRODUCTION. 


Each  biography,  therefore,  like  the  personage  it  rep- 
resents, has  not  only  its  distinctive  character,  but  its 
peculiar  sphere  of  interest  and  influence. 

Another  element  of  its  power  is  found  in  the  law 
of  assimilation.  As  the  beautiful  and  sublime  in 
nature  awaken  corresponding  emotions  and  inspire 
corresponding  sentiments,  so  the  contemplation  of 
the  lovely,  the  useful,  the  great,  the  good  in  human 
character  and  conduct,  inspires  corresponding  sympa- 
thies, kindles  corresponding  aspirations,  and  leads  to 
corresponding  activities  in  the  great  theatre  of  life. 
The  student  of  Christian  biography  lives  with  the 
blessed  dead — not  in  their  life  of  glory,  but  in  their 
life  of  grace, — that  life  which  is  by  the  faith  of  the 
Son  of  God — a  life  of  devotions  and  duties,  of  aims 
and  conflicts,  of  services  and  sacrifices,  and  of  trials 
and  triumphs.  Associating  with  them,  he  becomes 
like  them;  conversing  with  them,  contemplating 
their  character  and  life,  he  is  changed  into  the  same 
image;  witnessing  their  continuous  toil  and  patient 
endurance,  he  also  becomes  steadfast,  unmovable, 
always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  This 
power  of  assimilation  endows  Christian  biography 
with  vast  moral  influence,  and  makes  it  a  most  pre- 
cious means  of  grace.  The  lives  of  holy  men  are 
endowed  with  vital  power ;  they  not  only  point  out 
and  illustrate  the  way,  but  they  draw  the  soul  heav- 
enward. 

Its  force  is  also  found  in  its  illustrations  of  religious 
truth.  Abstract  teachings  have  but  little  interest  for 
the  common  mind.  Indeed,  for  the  most  part,  even 
informed  and  cultivated  persons  do  not  seek  them 
for  the  pleasure  they  aflbrd,  but  for  edification.  All 


INTRODUCTION. 


21 


minds  appreciate  apt  illustrations,  beautiful  descrip- 
tions. Hence  the  charms  of  poetry  and  the  attrac- 
tions of  a  figurative  style  of  composition.  This  is 
one  of  the  things  that  makes  the  gospel  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation.  It  not  only  contains  the  glorious 
truth  of  Christianity,  but  gives  us  that  truth  illus- 
trated and  exemplified  in  the  parables  and  life  of 
Christ,  and  in  the  lives  of  his  apostles.  What  Christ 
did  is  as  instructive  as  what  Christ  said.  His  con- 
duct and  spirit,  in  the  varying  circumstances  of  his 
eventful  life,  are  as  edifying  as  his  discourses.  In- 
deed, the  former  beautifully  illustrate  and  enforce 
the  latter.  The  example  of  Jesus — the  life  that  he 
lived — is,  therefore,  as  instructive  as  the  gracious 
words  which  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth.  By  multi- 
tudes the  instructions  furnished  by  the  holy  and  use- 
ful life  of  the  Saviour  are  more  clearly  perceived, 
more  fully  comprehended,  and  more  forcibly  felt 
than  even  the  revelations  and  precepts  that  he 
uttered  with  his  lips.  The  man  who  can  hardly 
comprehend  the  abstract  statement  or  demonstration 
of  truth,  will  perhaps  be  the  first  to  perceive  it  and 
to  feel  its  power  when,  as  a  living  embodiment,  it 
stands  before  him.  Christian  biography  possesses  this 
useful  attribute :  it  furnishes  apt,  plain,  and  affecting 
illustrations  of  all  the  experimental  and  practical 
truths  of  the  gospel.  As  in  mathematical  text-books, 
each  rule  is  accompanied  with  some  problems  worked 
out  in  order  to  show  the  student  how  the  rule  is  to  be 
applied ;  so  religious  biography  furnishes  examples 
under  all  the  rules  and  principles  of  Christianity, 
clearly  showing  how  its  problems  of  penitence,  and 
faith,  and  practical  duty  are  to  be  solved.    For  in- 


22 


INTRODUCTION. 


stance,  in  the  life  of  Bishop  Hedding  we  have  a  most 
sti'iking  example  of  penitence,  of  powerful  conver- 
sion, of  strong  faith  in  the  midst  of  great  trials  and 
severe  temptations,  of  pure-mindedness  and  holy 
living,  of  unyielding  perseverance  in  great  and 
long-continued  labours  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and, 
in  the  end,  of  holy  triumph  over  the  fear  of  death 
and  the  grave.  'No  one  can  read  his  life  without 
obtaining  a  clearer  knowledge  of  the  things  that  per- 
tain to  salvation — especially  to  the  Christian  faith 
and  life — than  they  could  possibly  have  gained  from 
the  most  elaborate  and  able  dissertations  upon  the 
abstract  subjects.  Religious  biography  sustains  to 
didactic  theology  the  same  relation  the  atlas  does  to 
the  geography.  The  one  states  and  argues  the  sub- 
ject; the  other  exhibits  and  illustrates  it.  To  a  large 
class  of  minds  this  illustration  is  almost  indispensa- 
ble, and  there  is  no  class  that  may  not  be  benefited 
by  it. 

A  well- written  memoir  of  any  eminently  religious, 
laborious,  or  useful  person,  is,  therefore,  a  work  of 
great  spiritual  interest.  It  is  another  beacon-light 
upon  the  shores  of  time,  pointing  out  the  channel  of 
safety  and  success  to  those  who  navigate  its  danger- 
ous straits.  It  is  another  "  still,  small,"  but  eloquent 
voice,  pleading  for  Jesus  and  wooing  souls  to  Christ. 
It  is  another  problem  of  salvation  to  the  uttermost, 
worked  out  and  placed  before  us  so  that  we  may 
mark  its  successive  stages,  and  be  assisted  in  making 
our  own  calling  and  election  sure.  How  invaluable, 
then,  is  such  a  work !  How  helpful  to  young  disciples, 
and  how  streno^thenins:  to  older  believers!  It  is  at 
once  a  practical  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  Chris- 


I 


INTRODUCTION. 


23 


tianity,  and  also  a  practical  exhibition  of  its  l)lessed 
fruits. 

All  these  elements  of  usefulness  appertain  to  the 
biographies  of  eminent  private  Christians.  Their 
experience,  their  patience,  their  holy  life,  and  their 
final  triumph,  exhibit  the  great  beauty  and  blessed- 
ness of  Christianity.  As  we  read  their  lives,  we 
almost  insensibly  imbibe  their  spirit — become  in- 
spired by  like  love,  animated  by  the  same  faith,  and 
stimulated  by  the  same  high  and  holy  motives.  As 
intimacies  in  life  tend  to  produce  similarity  of  char- 
acter, so  the  biographies  of  the  great  and  the  good 
exert  a  transforming  influence  upon  those  who  make 
them  a  subject  of  study  and  meditation.  Their  in- 
fluence is  silent,  but  powerful.  It  is  like  one  of  those 
currents  flowing  beneath  the  earth,  whose  course  is 
traced  only  by  the  superior  verdure  of  the  earth 
above  it.  Thus  the  biographies  of  even  private  Chris- 
tians often  prove  a  source  of  blessing  to  the  Church, 
wide-spread  and  long-continued. 

But,  as  a  general  rule,  the  more  prominent  posi- 
tion the  subject  of  the  memoir  occupied  in  the 
Church,  the  more  fully  he  was  set  apart  for  spiritual 
services ;  and  the  more  devoted  his  labours  and  signal 
his  successes  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  the  greater 
will  be  the  interest  that  must  be  attached  to  such  a 
work,  and  the  wider  will  be  the  sphere  of  its  influ- 
ence and  usefulness.  Hence  the  memoirs  of  truly 
devoted  and  really  eminent  Christian  ministers  are 
transcendant  in  their  power  and  usefulness.  The 
experimental  and  practical  godliness  of  such  men, 
their  trials  and  faith,  their  conflicts  and  victories,  all 
exemplifying  the  economy  of  God,  and  showing  the 


24 


INTRODUCTION. 


plan  of  salvation  to  be  the  same  in  its  relations  to 
all  Christians,  whether  of  the  ministiy  or  the  laity, 
afford  an  instructive  lesson.  They  signalize  the 
power  of  divine  grace  by  showing  what  attainments 
in  holiness  and  usefulness  were  made  by  men  who, 
after  all,  were  men  of  like  passions  and  like  infirmi- 
ties with  us  all. 

The  official  experience  and  work  of  such  men  ex- 
hibit the  fiu'ther  plenitude  of  grace  in  that  they  are 
made  the  savour  of  life  unto  those  who  were  lost  and 
perishing.  The  Christian  ministry  is  a  "high  call- 
ing," "a  weighty  work."  "  To  be  messengers,  watch- 
men, and  stewards  of  the  Lord,  to  teach  and  to  pre- 
monish,  to  feed,  and  to  provide  for  the  Lord's  family, 
to  seek  for  Christ's  sheep  that  are  dispersed  abroad, 
and  for  his  children  who  are  in  the  midst  of  this 
evil  world,  that  they  may  be  saved  through  Christ 
forever,"  is  the  highest  vocation  in  which  human 
powers  can  be  employed. 

"  'Tis  not  a  cause  of  small  import 
The  pastor's  care  demands  ; 
But  what  might  fill  an  angel's  heart, 
And  fill'd  a  Saviour's  hands." 

These  are  "the  greater  works"  than  those  done  by 
Christ,  and  which  he  declared  should  be  accom- 
plished by  those  who  believed  on  him,  after  he  had 
gone  unto  the  Father.  John  xiv,  12.  To  the  end 
that  they  might  be  quahfied  for  such  a  work,  the 
promise  of  being  endued  with  the  Holy  Spirit  from 
on  high  was  made.  The  utter  insufficiency  of  man 
— unaided  by  the  Spirit  of  God — for  such  a  work,  is 
thus  shown  by  our  Saviour.    What  solemn  and 


INTRODUCTION. 


25 


awful  responsibilities  centre  in  this  calling!  "What 
momentous  and  eternal  results  depend  upon  it !  To 
meet  such  responsibilities,  and  to  encompass  such 
results  as  are  contemplated  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, call  not  only  for  the  deepest  piety  and  the 
purest  faith,  but  for  the  constant  exercise  of  a  devoted 
and  self-consuming  zeal. 

In  his  exalted  station  in  the  Church,  the  minister 
is  exposed  to  two  peculiar  sources  of  trial.  The 
expectations  of  the  people  are  often  extravagant;  they 
look  for  superhuman  perfection  and  power  in  their 
pastor ;  they  forget  that  he  is  a  man  of  like  passions 
with  themselves — that  he  is  encompassed  with  infirm- 
ities— that  he  is  subject  to  temptations  and  trials, 
and  that,  though  a  depositary  of  sacred  treasure, 
after  all  he  is  but  an  earthen  vessel.  They  often 
seem  to  expect  to  find  in  him  a  being  exempt  from 
the  ordinary  infirmities  and  imperfections  of  our 
nature ;  nay,  their  very  feelings  toward  religion  will, 
in  a  measure,  be  regulated  by  those  inspired  by  the 
personal  character  and  address  of  the  minister  of 
Christ.  When  the  priests,  who  accompanied  the 
Spaniards  in  their  early  invasion  of  Mexico,  desired 
to  baptize  the  children  of  the  natives,  "ISTo!"  said 
they ;  "he  must  be  a  wicked  God  who  has  such 
wicked  servants !"  Thus  does  the  minister  in  a 
peculiar  manner  stand  as  the  representative  of  Christ 
and  his  religion.  The  very  truth  he  proclaims  is  to 
be  weighed  and  tested,  not  merely  in  the  light  of 
his  words,  but  also  in  the  light  of  his  character  and 
life.  For  a  minister  to  meet  all  these  conditions — so 
to  demean  himself  as  to  be  of  good  report  both  in 
and  out  of  the  Church,  and  at  the  same  time  to 


26 


INTRODUCTION. 


retain  the  testimony  that  he  pleases  God — is  an 
achieyement  'wonderful  as  it  is  difficult.  Its  accom- 
plishment attests  the  sufficiency  of  diyine  grace.  To 
fill  this  sacred  office  without  reproach  while  liying, 
and  to  leaye  a  memoiy  fragrant  with  that  which  is 
pure  and  good  after  he  has  gone  to  his  reward,  is  a 
manifestation  of  grace  in  the  minister  of  Christ  at 
once  glorious  in  itself  and  cheering  to  the  heart  of 
eyerj  Christian. 

Another  som'ce  of  trial  to  the  Christian  minister 
is  the  fact  that  he  is  subjected  in  a  peculiar  manner 
to  the  fiercest  assaults  of  Satan.  His  ability  to 
thwart  the  deyices  of  the  eyil  one  and  to  do  good, 
the  important  relation  he  sustains  to  the  Church  and 
truth  of  God,  and  his  aggressiye  warfare  against  the 
usurped  dominion  of  sin  upon  the  earth,  all  make 
him  a  peculiar  object  of  subtle  hatred  to  the  powei-s 
of  darkness.  The  great  adyersary  knows  well  that 
if  a  minister  sayes  his  own  soul  he  will  also  saye 
others;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  if  he  fall,  he  will 
carry  others  with  him.  He  can  neither  be  sayed  nor 
lost  alone.  K  he  pass  oyer  the  "highway  of  holi- 
ness" to  the  celestial  city,  he  will  perform  an  office 
like  that  of  the  locomotiye  upon  the  railroad ;  he  will 
di*aw  along  with  and  after  him  a  train  freighted  with 
immortal  spirits,  redeemed  and  sayed  by  the  blood  of 
Christ.  K  he  becomes  ensnared  and  perishes,  it  is 
as  the  noble  yessel  that  founders  at  sea,  engulfing  a 
whole  crew  in  the  fathomless  depths.  If  the  spiritual 
Samson  falls  with  his  hands  upon  the  pillars  of  the 
temple  of  God,  multitudes  share  the  awful  destruc- 
tion. Our  wily  foe  is  not  ignorant  of  the  wide-spread 
ruin  consequent  upon  a  minister's  fall.    The  destruc- 


INTRODUCTION. 


27 


tion  of  one  minister,  tlien,  is  more  of  an  object  to 
him  than  the  overthrow  of  many  others  whose  posi- 
tion and  influence  are  less  powerful ;  hence  with 
double  effort  he  endeavours  to  accomplish  his 
end.  Such  is  the  condition  of  the  minister :  sub- 
jected to  the  common  infirmities  of  our  nature,  he 
is  still  left  to  battle  in  the  midst  of  sore  trials,  and  to 
withstand  the  special  assaults  of  Satan.  Has  he 
bravely  withstood  all  these  adverse  evil  influences, 
and  nobly  risen  above  them?  It  is  because  he  was 
girded  with  the  whole  armour  of  God;  because  he 
was  strengthened  with  might  by  his  spirit  in  the 
inner  man.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  and  in 
spite  of  these  adverse  influences,  is  he  for  a  long 
series  of  years  steadfast,  immovable,  always  abound- 
ing in  the  work  of  the  Lord — maintaining  the  good 
fight,  keeping  the  faith,  and  finally  finishing  his 
course  with  joy?  then  have  we  an  exemplification 
and  a  triumph  of  grace  that  may  awaken  our  admira- 
tion, and  fill  our  hearts  with  praise  to  God.  There 
is,  therefore,  a  peculiar  interest  and  a  special  import- 
ance attached  to  the  biographies  of  distinguished 
Christian  ministers. 

But  if  the  subject  of  the  memoir  be  a  general  super- 
intendent or  a  bishop  of  the  Church,  the  importance  of 
the  work  is  still  increased.  The  higher  the  office  one 
fills  in  an  army — the  more  of  public  weal  entrusted  to 
him — the  greater  the  difficulties  in  which  he  is  in- 
volved, (though  these  add  nothing  to  his  personal 
merits,)  the  deeper  is  the  interest  felt  in  the  manner  in 
which  he  meets  his  responsibilities.  Upon  the  same 
principle,  the  biography  of  one  who  had  long  and 
successfully  filled  the  office  of  a  bishop  in  the  Meth- 


28 


INTRODUCTION. 


odist  Episcopal  Churcli,  cannot  be  without  additional 
and  special  interest.  Few  men,  if  any,  whether  in 
Church  or  state,  have  devolved  upon  them  higher 
obligations,  or  are  called  to  encounter  greater  difficul- 
ties in  discharging  their  official  duties.  He  has  the 
care  of  all  the  Churches ;  he  is  "  to  oversee  the  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  interests  of  the  Church."  Such  a 
supervision  is  a  work  of  magnitude  in  any  Church ; 
but  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  its  itinerant 
economy  makes  its  general  superintendency  not 
only  a  work  of  great  magnitude,  but  also  of  great 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  Let  us  indicate  some  of 
these. 

In  such  an  economy  there  must  be  an  umpire, 
some  one  to  "fix  the  appointments"  of  the  preach- 
ers definitely  and  authoritatively.  In  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Chm'cli  this  task  is  devolved  upon  her  bish- 
ops. But  they  cannot  do  this  by  a  merely  arbitrary 
exercise  of  authority.  It  demands  the  most  afiection- 
ate  sympathy  with  both  the  Churches  and  the  preach- 
ers, the  most  thorough  and  patient  investigation  of  the 
condition  of  the  Churches  and  the  circumstances  of 
the  preachers,  the  most  careful  examination  of  the 
adaptation  of  ministers  and  appointments.  All  this 
must  sometimes  be  done  in  a  conference  of  two 
hundred  or  more  ministers  in  a  few  days,  besides 
presiding  in  the  conference  sessions.  This  can  only 
be  accomplished  by  the  most  intense  and  prayerful 
application.  But  after  having  heard  kindly  and 
patiently  the  representations  of  both  preachers  and 
people,  and  taken  the  best  counsel  the  case  admits, 
and  arranged  the  plan  of  appointments  with  the 
utmost  tenderness  and  care,  the  bishop  often  finds 


INTKODUCTION. 


29 


them  unsatisfactory.  Indeed,  how  could  it  be  other- 
wise, unless  he  could  work  miracles?  For  instance, 
if  half  a  dozen  Churches  ask  for  one  man,  the  bishop 
can  appoint  him  to  only  one  of  them,  and  the  others 
must  be  disappointed;  or  if  two  or  three  ministers 
desire  the  same  appointment,  but  one  can  have  it, 
and  the  others  will  feel  more  or  less  afflicted.  Or 
if  a  Charch  is  divided, — one  part  wishing  one  minis- 
ter, and  the  other  part  another, — it  is  plain  that  the 
wishes  of  both  cannot  be  met;  and  yet  the  dis- 
appointed party  not  unfrequently  blames  the  bishop. 
In  many  such  cases,  to  avoid  blame  is  utterly  im- 
practicable, because  it  would  require  him  to  meet  at 
one  and  the  same  time  the  antagonistic  wishes  of 
both  parties.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  conceive 
the  delicacy  and  difficulty  of  the  position  held  by 
the  stationing  power  under  such  circumstances. 

Again,  in  the  representations  made  of  claims  and 
interests,  the  reasons  urged  are  often  as  conflicting 
as  the  wishes  expressed.  For  example,  one  Church 
must  have  a  first-class  minister  this  year,  because 
the  other  Churches  of  the  place  are  without  ministers, 
and  there  is  an  opportunity  to  do  great  good  and 
build  up  the  Church ;  another  must  have  a  first-class 
minister,  because  the  other  Churches  of  the  place 
have  very  able  ministers,  and  are  di'awing  away 
their  people;  one  Church  has  had  an  unacceptable 
minister  for  the  last  year  or  two,  and  the  congrega- 
tion is  so  scattered,  and  the  Church  so  prostrated,  that 
they  must  have  a  man  to  raise  them;  another  has 
had  a  man  of  talent  for  one  or  two  years,  and  they 
have  a  large  congregation,  and  now  they  must  have 
a  popular  man  to  sustain  them.    One  society  wants 


30 


INTEODUCTION. 


to  build  a'  cliui'cli  tliis  vear,  and  must  have  a  minister 
who  lias  talent  and  influence  to  aid  them ;  another 
society  has  just  built  a  new  church,  and  now  must 
have  an  attractive  minister  to  fill  it.  It  is  easv  to 
see  how  these  conflicting  reasons  could  all  be  m-ged 
with  candom-  and  propriety,  but  it  is  not  so  easy  to 
see  how  the  bishop  could  be  conti'oUed  by  each  of 
them;  or  if  he  were  disposed  to  be,  how  each  society 
could  possibly  be  accommodated. 

The  reasons  urged  by  the  preachers  in  reference 
to  their  wishes  are  often  equally  antagonistic.  For 
instance,  one  preacher  has  had  a  first-class  appoint- 
ment, and  must  have  another  like  it,  or  be  disgraced 
by  taking  an  inferior  one.  Another  has  had  poor 
appointments,  and  the  time  has  come  when  he  is 
entitled  to  better  ones,  to  give  him  character,  posi- 
tion, and  usefulness.  One  preacher  has  travelled, 
labom-ed,  and  sacrificed  many  years,  and  in  view 
of  past  services  is  entitled  to  consideration  in  his 
appointments.  The  people  express  a  wish  for  a 
younger  man,  and  he  thinks  he  ought  to  have  the 
better  appointment  in  jDreference  to  the  older  brother, 
because  his  popularity  has  induced  this  petition  from 
the  people.  Xot  unfrequently  the  young  men  who 
m-ge  this  motive  soon  lose  a  measure  of  their  health, 
or  in  some  way  a  degree  of  their  efi'ectiveness,  and, 
consequently,  their  popularity  with  the  people,  and 
then  turn  to  the  bishop  as  their  help  in  the  time 
of  affliction — not  unfrequently  falling  back  upon 
the  plea  of  age  and  service  as  reasons  why  they 
should  be  favoured  with  short  moves  and  comfort- 
able appointments.  Another  preacher  has  just  left 
a  lucrative  employment,  and,  in  view  of  his  fin  an- 


INTRODUCTION. 


31 


cial  sacrifices,  claims  special  notice  in  his  allotment. 
Another  is  poor,  and  must  be  relieved  by  bis  next 
appointment.  Another  has  children  to  be  educated, 
and  facilities  and  means  must  be  secured  in  arrang- 
ing the  work  assigned  to  him  in  his  next  appoint- 
ment. One  man  had  a  long  distance  to  move  in  his 
last  appointment,  and  ought  not  to  be  subjected  to 
a  similar.  The  family  of  another  brother  is  sick,  and 
he  must,  therefore,  have  an  appointment  contiguous  to 
the  one  he  is  leaving.  The  health  of  one  brother  has 
partially  failed,  and  he  must  have  light  work.  Anoth- 
er brother  has  been  over-tasked  with  a  heavy  appoint- 
ment, and  he  must  now  have  an  easier  one. 

These  are  only  specimens  of  the  representations 
of  Churches  and  ministers,  which  are  made  to  the 
bishops  and  their  council,  and  which  are  to  be  affec- 
tionately regarded  and  adjusted  by  them  in  stationing 
the  preachers.  Although  it  may  be  affirmed,  without 
fear  of  successful  contradiction,  that  there  is  no  de- 
nomination in  which  there  is  so  little  irritation  be- 
tween Churches  and  pastors,  and  where  so  high  a 
degree  of  satisfaction  exists,  as  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church ;  still  it  must  be  seen  that  our 
itinerant  system  cannot  be  carried  on  without  some 
friction.  Disappointments  and  afflictions  will  some- 
times occur.  The  bishop,  upon  whom  devolves  the 
responsibility  of  fixing  and  changing  these  pastoral 
relations,  cannot  reasonably  expect  to  escape  censure. 
And  farther,  he  has  no  power  to  enforce  his  au- 
thority. If  a  preacher  refuses  to  go  to  the  appoint- 
ment assigned  to  him,  the  bishop  can  inflict  no 
penalty.  The  determination  of  the  case  is  with  the 
annual  conference.    His  power,  therefore,  is  only 


32 


INTRODUCTION. 


commensurate  with  the  confidence  of  the  Chm'ch 
in  liis  integrity,  wisdom,  and  carefulness. 

It  is,  therefore,  a  question  of  deep  interest,  con- 
cerning one  who  has  filled  this  office  for  a  long  series 
of  years.  How  did  he  succeed  in  discharging  all 
these  delicate  and  difficult  duties,  and  in  meeting  all 
these  peculiar  and  weighty  responsibilities?  A 
biography  that  answers  at  length  this  inquiry  must 
be  a  work  of  much  general  interest.  The  Life 
of  Bishop  Iledding  therefore,  being  the  biography 
of  a  deeply  experienced  and  exemplary  Christian, 
of  a  devoted  and  eminent  minister,  and  of  an  able 
and  successful  bishop,  not  only  embraces  all  these 
elements  of  interest  of  which  we  have  heretofore 
spoken — such  as,  standing  alone,  would  render  it  a 
most  desirable  and  useful  work  ;  but  combined  as  his 
history  was  with  the  early  history  of  Methodism,  and 
with  the  progress  and  development  of  the  Church, 
during  his  long  and  successful  ministry,  the  work 
must  possess  much  additional  interest.  Accordingly, 
in  this  work  we  shall  find  the  concurrent  progress  of 
the  Church  briefly  delineated,  embodying  many  in- 
cidents illustrative  of  the  earlier  history  of  the 
Methodistic  movement  in  tliis  country — the  obstacles 
encountered  by  the  early  preachers,  their  modes  of 
aggressive  warfare,  and  the  philosophy  of  their  suc- 
cess— and  also  outline  sketches  of  the  character  and 
career  of  some  of  the  noble  associates  of  Iledding  in 
the  great  work  of  founding  Methodism  in  the  land. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Bishop  Iledding  did  not 
keep  a  diary.  Tlie  loss  sustained  by  this  omission  is 
irreparable.  To  some  extent,  however,  it  has  been 
remedied ;  and  all  the  accessible  material  that  could 


INTRODrCTION. 


33 


perfect  his  biography,  or  illustrate  his  character,  has 
been  carefully  gleaned  for  this  work.  In  1847  the 
Rev.  Moses  L.  Scudder  was  stationed  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  then  the  residence  of  Bishop  Hedding.  He 
proposed  that  the  bishop  should  relate  to  him  the 
events  of  his  life  and  he  would  write  them  down. 
The  bishop  was  very  reluctant  to  this ;  but  upon  being 
assured  that  after  his  death  some  one  would  attempt 
a  biography  of  him,  he  assented  to  the  proposition. 
His  engagements  and  his  ill  health,  however,  hindered 
the  progress  of  the  work.  In  1848  the  General 
Conference,  at  its  session  in  Pittsburgh,  passed  the 
following  resolution,  namely :  Resolved,  That  this 
General  Conference  do  most  earnestly  and  affection- 
ately request  our  respected  and  venerated  Bishop 
Hedding  to  prepare  his  biography  for  publication, 
including  especially  his  observations  and  opinions  in 
relation  to  Methodism." 

Tlie  passage  of  this  resolution  induced  the  bishop 
more  willingly,  to  allow  the  record  of  the  incidents 
of  his  life;  and  after  the  removal  of  Mr.  Scudder 
to  another  pastoral  charge,  his  successor,  the  Rev. 
L.  M.  Yincent,  continued  to  write  for  him.  But  the 
bishop's  official  duties,  together  with  his  increasing 
infirmities,  greatly  embarrassed  and  delayed  the 
prosecution  of  the  work.  Yet  much  was  rescued 
from  oblivion  by  these  eflforts.  I  desire  especially 
to  record  the  persevering  and  indefatigable  exertions 
of  Mr.  Scudder  in  procuring  materials  for  this  work 
both  while  at  Poughkeepsie  and  subsequently.  By 
-  his  agency  most  of  such  materials  were  secured  and 
preserved.  After  the  death  of  Bishop  Hedding  the 
following  article  was  found  in  his  will : — 


34 


INTRODUCTION. 


"  Whereas  the  General  Conference  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty-eight  were  pleased  to  adopt  the 
following  resolution,  viz. : — 

"  'Resolved,  That  this  conference  do  most  earnestly 
and  affectionately  request  Bishop  Hedding  to  prepare 
his  biography  for  publication,  including  especially 
his  observations  and  opinions  in  relation  to  Method- 
ism;' and  whereas  I  have  done  what  I  could,  by 
the  assistance  of  Rev.  M.  L.  Scudder  and  other 
friends,  but  through  my  heavy  labours  while  I  had 
strength  to  labour,  and  through  my  protracted  ill- 
ness of  more  than  a  year,  the  papers  will  probably 
be  left  but  in  an  imperfect  state ;  nov/,  I  hereby 
appoint  my  beloved  colleague,  Bishop  Janes,  or,  in 
case  of  his  death,  Bishop  "VYaugh,  to  receive  those 
papers,  write  the  biography,  or  appoint  some  one 
else  to  write  it,  and  to  cause  it  to  be  published  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  the  said  Janes  is  one  of  the  bishops." 

Accordingly,  his  executors  placed  in  my  hands 
the  papers  referred  to,  in  order  that  the  provision  of 
the  will  might  be  executed,  and  the  desire  of  the 
Church  gratified  in  the  publication  of  the  biography 
of  one  who  had  been  so  eminent  both  in  the  broad 
fields  of  her  labour  and  in  her  highest  councils. 

After  consulting  with  my  colleagues,  I  apj)ointed 
Rev.  D.  W.  Clark,  D.  D.,  to  write  the  biography. 
My  ofiicial  duties  while  the  work  has  been  passing 
through  the  press  have  not  allowed  me  time  to  exam- 
ine it  critically;  but  my  knowledge  of  Dr.  Clark's 
abilities,  and  of  the  labour  he  has  bestowed  upon  the 
work,  enable  me  most  confidently  to  commend  it  to 
the  Christian  public.    In  closing  this  introduction, 


INTRODUCTION. 


35 


it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  insert  the  following 
notice,  from  the  pen  of  Bishop  Morris : — 

"  Having  been  favoured  with  the  privilege  of  read- 
ing this  work  in  MS.,  I  take  pleasure  in  commending 
it  to  the  attention  of  readers  generally,  especially  the 
lovers  of  Christian  biography.  Few  individuals  in 
the  United  States,  if  any,  had  a  more  extensive 
acquaintance,  or  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  more 
numerous  personal  friends  than  Bishop  Hedding. 
'No  one  was  more  worthy  to  be  highly  esteemed  and 
loved  for  his  work's  sake.  He  was  actively  engaged 
in  the  gospel  ministry  fifty  successive  years.  Others 
wrote  more  for  posterity;  but  no  man  of  modern 
times,  I  believe,  has  performed  more  pastoral  labour, 
or  done  it  better  than  he  did.  His  term  of  active 
toil  embraced  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
When  he  first  entered  the  itinerant  service  it  was  in 
'the  day  of  small  things,'  and  there  were  enemies 
to  confront  and  obstacles  to  overcome  unknown  to 
us  of  this  generation ;  but  he  was  favoured  with  grace 
according  to  his  day  and  trial.  The  part  he  acted  as 
a  pioneer  deserves  a  place  on  the  pages  of  history. 
I  scarcely  know  which  to  admire  more,  the  strength 
with  which  he  threshed  mountain  difficulties,  or  the 
well-balanced  judgment  with  which  that  strength 
was  directed.  Apparently  unconscious  of  possessing 
either,  he  trusted  only  in  God  for  success,  and  gave 
to  him  all  the  glory.  Whatever  appears  properly 
authenticated  of  such  a  character  will  not  fail  to 
interest  the  American  people.  His  early  history, 
conversion,  and  call  to  the  ministry;  his  usefulness 
and  well-earned  popularity,  suffering  and  patience, 
perils  and  escapes,  toils  and  triumphs,  will  all  be  read 

2* 


36 


INTRODUCTION. 


with  profit.  Indeed,  the  entire  process  by  which  he 
rose  from  the  obscurity  of  a  country  lad  to  the  high- 
est ofl&ce  in  the  largest  Christian  body  in  America, 
and  the  wisdom  and  firmness  with  which  he  filled  it, 
will  be  examined  with  interest.  The  closing  scene 
of  the  pious  bishop's  life  will  amply  compensate  for 
a  second  reading,  and  prepare  the  mind  to  enjoy  the 
final  summing  up  of  his  character  and  public  service. 

"To  write  the  Life  of  Bishop  Hedding  involves 
no  inconsiderable  amount  of  responsibility ;  but  the 
author.  Rev.  D.  W.  Clark,  D.  D.,  in  my  opinion,  has 
proved  himself  equal  to  the  trust  confided  to  him. 
The  work  is  not  burdened  with  stale  documents. 
Important  events  of  the  times,  ecclesiastically,  are 
interspersed,  and  honourable  mention  is  made  of  the 
subject's  early  coadjutors;  but  not  so  as  to  break,  or 
materially  obscure,  the  chain  of  personal  history.  I 
trust  that  hundreds  of  thousands  will  realize  what  I 
enjoyed  in  the  perusal  of  it — a  rich  mental  repast  and 
heartfelt  pleasure." 

E.  S.  Janes. 

New- York,  June  1, 1855. 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 

ov 

REV.  ELIJAH  HEDDING,  D.D. 


Methodism,  having  its  origin  in  1728,  with  a  few  stu- 
dents in  the  University  of  Oxford,  who  were  seeking 
a  higher  tone  of  piety,  a  greater  simplicity  and  purity 
of  manner,  and  a  clearer  reahzation  of  experimental 
and  practical  truth  than  was  common  in  that  age,  has 
continued  through  the  lapse  of  a  century  and  a  quar- 
ter to  develop  and  move  forward  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  its  mission.  Its  rise  constitutes  a  signal  epoch 
in  the  history  of  the  world.  In  its  progress  it  has  de- 
veloped new  sources  of  power,  and  brought  new  forces 
into  the  field  where  Christianity  is  waging  its  conflict 
against  the  kingdom  and  power  of  darkness.  Its 
ecclesiastical  organization,  like  that  of  the  apostolic 
Church,  did  not  come  forth  plotted  and  devised  in 
conclave  by  a  few  master  minds,  but  was  the  offspring 
of  a  Providence  which  at  once  overruled  the  action 
of  the  wisest,  and  guided  to  results  as  unexpected  as 


38  LIFE   AXD   TIMES    OF  HEDDINQ. 

thej  were  magnificent.  In  the  abundance  of  tlieii* 
laboui's,  and  the  zeal  and  self-sacrificing  spirit,  as  well 
as  oneness  of  purpose,  with  which  those  labours  were 
earned  on,  the  leading  spirits  in  the  "Methodistic 
company,"  as  Isaac  Taylor  calls  them,  have  not  been 
surpassed  since  the  apostolic  age. 

In  this  country  Methodism  dates  its  origin  thirty- 
eight  years  later  than  in  England ;  but  its  distinct 
organization,  under  the  title  of  the  "  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,"  did  not  take  place  tiU  1784:,  when  the 
growing  interests  of  the  work,  combined  with  our 
pohtical  severance  from  the  mother  country,  rendered 
such  organization  necessary.  The  last  half  of  the 
eighteenth  centmy  may  be  regai'ded  as  the  heroic  age 
of  Methodism  in  England ;  and  the  last  quarter  of  the 
same  century  and  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  may 
be  regarded  as  its  heroic  age  in  this  country.  In 
those  days  there  were  giants  in  the  land.  They  con- 
stituted the  thundering  legion — le(/io  tonans — of  Meth- 
odism. They  went  out  "witliout  scrip  or  purse;" 
they  heeded  no  danger  and  slirunk  from  no  labour ; 
they  forded  streams,  crossed  moimtains,  ti-aversed 
wildernesses,  everywhere  preaching  the  word  of  life, 
and  striving  "  to  spread  Scriptural  holiness  over  aU 
these  lands."  Many  of  them  were  imtaught  in  the 
schools  of  human  learning ;  but  they  had  been  thor- 
oughly, severely  drilled  in  the  school  of  Christ,  and 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  39 

their  theology  was  not  merely  theoretical,  but  actual. 
They  were  undisciplined  in  the  logic  of  the  schools ; 
but  they  were  also  untrammelled  by  the  convention- 
alities of  art,  and  mighty  in  the  logic  of  common  sense. 
They  had  one  work — one  aim ;  and  borne  away  by 
the  inspiration  of  that  mighty  work,  they  moved  with 
a  momentum  irresistible,  and  with  a  power  that  shook 
the  moral  universe.  ]^obly  have  they  done  their 
work !  All  succeeding  ages  will  bear  witness  unto 
them.  But  they  have  ceased  from  their  labom's  and 
gone  to  their  reward. 

Methodism  in  its  organic  state  is  the  monument 
they  have  left  behind  them, — ^Methodism  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic,  with  its  missionary  stations  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  globe, — Methodism,  with  its 
distinctive  characteristics  and  regulations,  with  its 
ample  and  widely-diffused  literature,  with  its  semi- 
naries, colleges,  and  theological  schools,  with  its  nearly 
two  milhon  communicants  and  its  eight  million  souls 
dependent  upon  its  fifteen  thousand  ministers  for 
spiritual  instruction  and  guidance, — and,  above  all, 
Methodism,  with  its  millions  of  garnered  trophies  in 
the  kingdom  of  God,  and  its  millions  more  still  attest- 
ing that 

"  The  holy  to  the  holiest  leads." 

These  are  some  of  the  grand  results  of  the  "Wesley  an 
reformation,  so  far  as  it  concerns  organic  Methodism. 


40  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF  HEDDING. 

But  we  must  not  forget  that  the  whole  Christian 
Church  has  felt  the  mighty  impulse,  and  the  spiritual 
Yitality  of  sister  denominations  has  been  kindled  anew ; 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  tell  whether  the  grandest  re- 
sults of  Methodism  have  been  wrought  without  or 
within  the  pale  of  her  organization. 

In  our  own  country  Methodism  has  played  no  in- 
considerable part  in  developing  its  civilization ;  and 
especially  in  producing  that  paramount  Christian  in- 
fluence among  the  native  population,  which  consti- 
tutes one  of  the  leading  elements  of  that  civilization. 
Borne  by  the  self-sacrificing  itinerant,  it  has  gone  side 
by  side  with  the  hardy  pioneer,  illuminating  his  rude 
cabin  with  the  light  of  salvation,  and  shedding  around 
him  the  genial  influences  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  And 
when  the  wild  wilderness  gave  place  to  the  cultivated 
field  and  bustling  village,  the  church  and  the  school- 
house,  as  well  as  the  apphances  of  art  and  science  to 
the  purposes  of  life,  attested  that  the  noblest  element 
of  modern  civilization,  Christianity,  had  exerted  an 
all-pervading  influence  in  the  transformation  that  had 
been  wrought.  ISTor  is  it  an  inconsiderable  agency 
that  Methodism  has  had  in  Americanizing  and  Chris- 
tianizing the  millions  of  immigrants  from  the  old 
world  that  have  landed  upon  our  shores.  Brought 
under  the  genial  influence  of  the  same  civil  institu- 
tions, and  under  the  transforming  power  of  the  same 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  41 


religious  faith,  they  cease  to  be  foreigners  and  become 
one  with  us — -one  with  us  in  social  condition  and  feel- 
ing, and  one  with  us  through  the  transforming  power 
of  a  living  faith. 

It  will  be  the  object  of  the  following  pages  to  de- 
lineate the  life  and  character  of  one  of  those  heroic 
men,  who,  like  the  apostles  of  old,  forgetful  of  ease  or 
of  worldly  honour,  devoted  themselves  to  the  great 
work  of  blessing  and  saving  men.  Born  while  yet 
the  great  struggle  for  our  national  independence  was 
progressing,  and  while  the  vast  expanse  of  a  new  and 
hitherto  unbroken  country  was  being  overspread  by  a 
hardy  and  daring  people,  his  character  embodied  in 
it  those  elements  of  strength  and  self-reliance  which 
the  spirit  that  animated  the  people  and  the  stirring 
activity  of  the  times  were  calculated  to  produce. 
Methodism,  too,  which  before  had  been  inchoate  in 
this  country,  underwent  its  forming  process  contempo- 
raneously, and  under  the  action  of  the  same  agencies. 
Thus  born  and  nurtured,  he  became  fitted  by  experi- 
ence and  grace  to  take  a  leading  part  in  the  Metho- 
distic  movement  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  In 
planting  Methodism  in  waste  places  and  among  the 
sparse  and  newly-settled  population,  few  were  more 
laborious  or  successful.  In  developing  organic  Meth- 
odism, perfecting  its  ecclesiastical  organization,  giv- 
ing form  and  character  to  its  jurisprudence,  he  stands 


42  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 

perhaps  imequalled,  except  by  the  sainted  Asbury,  in 
the  Church.  To  him  will  Methodism  ever  be  in- 
debted, under  God,  for  much  that  is  noble  in  its 
organic  existence  and  glorious  in  its  eventful  career. 
The  works  of  such  men  survive  them,  and  continue  to 
operate  with  unspent  power  when  the  vanity  of  human 
ambition  has  long  been  humbled  in  the  dust.  Their 
history  is  no  less  an  indispensable  element  of  the 
world's  history  than  that  of  statesmen  and  heroes. 
"  If  it  has  not  to  treat,"  as  Mr.  Southey  has  well  ob- 
served, "  of  actions  wherewith  the  world  has  rung  from 
side  to  side,  it  appeals  to  the  higher  part  of  our  nature, 
and  may,  perhaps,  excite  more  salutary  feelings,  a 
worthier  interest,  and  wiser  meditations." 


BIETH   TO  CONVEESION. 


43 


CHAPTER  I. 

FEOir  HIS  BIETH  TO  HIS  CONYEESION. 

Birth — Ancestry — ^Early  Eeligious  Instruction — Prayer  in  Childhood — A 
Mother's  Influence — The  Dutchess  Circuit — Benjamin  Abbot — ^Yonderful 
Displays  of  Divine  Power — Grandmother  and  Mother  converted — ^Ex- 
horted by  Abbot  in  Class-meeting — Removed  to  Vermont — Temptations 
to  Infidelity — Deism — Atheism — Universalism — Mental  Conflicts  —  A 
Critical  Period — Narrow  Escape — Spiritual  Destitution  of  Starksborough 
— Advent  of  a  Methodist  Family — Meetings  established — Young  Hedding 
reads  Sermons — Studies  Methodist  Theology — The  Methodist  Itinerancy 
— Note,  A  Picture  of  Aggressive  Methodism — ^Vergennes  Circuit — Joseph 
Mitchell — Wonderful  Revival — A  Mother  in  Israel — Note,  Conversion  of 
Mrs.  Bushnell — Young  Hedding  powerfully  awakened — His  Resolve  and 
Dedication — Sermon  from  Joseph  Mitchell — Obtains  Peace — Becomes  a 
Probationer — Obtains  the  Witness  of  the  Spirit — Triumph  over  Sin — State 
of  his  Mind  and  his  Studies — A  Striking  Conversion — Point  reached  in 
the  Narrative — School  in  which  the  Prospective  Servant  of  Christ  had 
been  trained — ^Principal  Agencies  in  his  Conversion. 

Elijah  Hedding  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  ^Tew- 
York,  June  Tth,  1Y80.  His  grandfather  many  years 
before  had  settled  in  the  section  then  called  "The 
]Siine  Partners,"  and  here  his  father  resided  at  the 
time  of  his  birth.  The  homestead  was  situated  near 
the  south-western  corner  of  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Pine  Plains.  His  paternal  ancestry  were  of  Enghsh 
origin,  and  strongly  marked  with  Enghsh  peculiarities. 
Of  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  man  of  considerable 
prominence  in  the  community,  several  amusing  anec- 
dotes are  still  handed  down  in  the  neighbourhood. 


44  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1780. 


He  was  a  "  higli  liver,"  and  his  general  character  ac- 
corded much  with  the  prevailing  habits  of  the  times 
and  of  the  state  of  society  around  him. 

l^either  of  the  parents  of  Elijah  was  a  professor  of 
religion  at  the  time  of  his  birth ;  but  his  mother  was 
the  subject  of  deep  religious  convictions,  and  was 
evidently  a  woman  of  prayer.  She  took  great  pains 
to  guard  his  moral  character,  and  to  instruct  him  in 
the  truths  and  duties  of  the  Christian  rehgion.  The 
elements  of  a  religious  education  were  so  clearly  im- 
parted by  even  this  unconverted  mother,  and  so  firmly 
grafted  into  his  youthful  mind,  that,  at  the  early  age 
of  four  years,  he  was  able  to  pray  with  a  tolerable 
understanding  of  the  nature  and  obligations  of  prayer. 
The  habit  of  secret  prayer  thus  formed  in  early  child- 
hood was  maintained  for  several  years,  and  until, 
through  the  influence  of  evil  associates,  he  had  in  a 
measure  thrown  off  the  restraints  of  religion.  So 
conscientious  was  he  in  the  performance  of  this  duty, 
that  if  he  chanced  to  lie  down  at  night  without  saying 
his  evening  prayer  it  disturbed  his  rest,  and  he  could 
not  compose  himself  to  sleep  till  he  had  solemnly  and 
earnestly  repeated  it.  His  mother  had  taught  him  to 
repeat  that  verse  which  stands  prominently  among 
the  holiest  recollections  of  early  childhood  in  the  minds 
of  uncounted  millions : — 

"  And  now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep. 
If  I  should  die  before  I  wake, 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take." 


1786.] 


BIRTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


45 


It  is  a  striMng  evidence  of  the  force  and  beauty  of 
the  impression  made  by  this  germing  petition  npon 
his  infantile  heart,  that  he  continued  to  repeat  it  in 
later  years ;  and  even  in  his  old  age  it  formed  the  ap- 
propriate and  beautiful  close  of  the  secret  prayer 
breathed  forth  to  his  Maker  each  night  before  retiring 
to  rest.  So  clear  were  his  convictions  of  religious 
truth,  and  so  powerful  were  the  operations  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  upon  his  heart  in  this  early  period  of 
his  history,  that,  had  he  been  guarded  from  evil  asso- 
ciations and  surrounded  by  those  who  were  themselves 
possessed  of  vital  godliness,  and  instructed  and  en- 
couraged by  them  in  the  great  matters  of  rehgious 
experience  and  duty,  it  might  perhaps  have  been  said 
of  him  that  from  a  child  he  had  known  the  way  of  the 
Lord.  But,  as  it  was,  religious  truth  was  strongly  in- 
trenched in  his  understanding.  When  surrounded 
afterward  by  men  of  sceptical  views  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  and  when  powerfully  assailed  by  their  infi- 
dehty — so  congenial  to  the  impulses  of  our  sin-polluted 
natures — the  knowledge  of  the  word  and  truth  of  God, 
acquired  thus  ^arly,  rose  up  like  an  invincible  wall  of 
defence  around  him.  Often  in  later  yeai-s  he  referred, 
with  tender  and  grateful  feelings,  to  those  early  in- 
structions of  his  mother,  as  having  exerted  a  powerful 
influence  upon  his  whole  character  and  Kfe. 

To  the  illustrious  examples  of  a  mother's  influence 
in  planting  the  germs  of  whatever  is  gi-eat  and  good 
in  the  virgin  soil  of  the  young  heart,  must  be  added 
that  of  the  mother  of  Hedding.    Another  prominent 


46  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1787. 

agency  in  his  actual  conversion  Trill  appear ;  but  these 
early  instructions  antedated  all  other  influences,  and 
Tvere  superior  to  them  in  the  development  of  his  char- 
acter. Could  that  mother,  prosecuting  her  Christian 
duty  to  her  son,  unappalled  by  the  prevailing  irrehg- 
ion  of  the  times  and  by  the  adverse  influences  around 
her,  have  had  the  coming  future  unveiled  to  her 
vision — could  she  have  traced  the  career  of  her  first- 
bom,  first  as  a  holy  man,  and  an  able  minister  of  the 
Isew  Testament  winning  souls  to  Christ,  then  filhng 
with  honour  the  highest  office  in  the  Church  of  God, 
and  finally,  full  of  yeai-s  and  of  services,  closing  his 
long  and  honoured  career — the  patriarch  of  the 
Church — ^his  name  crowned  with  immortal  honour  and 
his  soul  inspired  with  immortal  hope,  the  discourage- 
ments she  experienced  and  the  obstacles  she  encoun- 
tered— at  which,  no  doubt,  her  faith  was  often  stag- 
gered— would  have  shrunk  into  absolute  insignificance 
in  comparison  with  the  great  objects  to  be  realized. 
Alas,  for  those  sons  that  are  without  Christian  mothers 
to  bestow  upon  them  this  indispensable  nurture ! 
Alas,  for  those  Christian  mothers  who  are  so  derelict 
in  duty  as  to  permit  their  sons  to  pass  the  limit  of 
early  childhood  without  causing  their  youthful  hearts 
to  comprehend  the  nature  and  to  feel  the  power  of 
the  elementary  principles  of  rehgion  ! 

The  Dutchess  circuit  first  appears  in  the  Minutes 
for  1788  with  only  ten  members.  This  comprised 
the  sum-total  of  Methodism  north  of  the  Highlands 
on  the  Hudson  Eiver  at  that  time.    Benjamin  Abbot 


1788.] 


BIRTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


47 


was  then  just  commeneing  his  wonderful  career.  A 
son  of  thunder,  he  ranged  through  the  country  and 
assaulted  the  strongholds  of  wickedness,  as  though 
he  had  received  a  special  commission  from  Heaven  to 
storm  the  very  citadel  of  hell  itself.  In  1Y89  he  was 
stationed  upon  Dutchess  circuit,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  year  1790  the  one  circuit  had  expanded  into  fou?^, 
and  the  ten  members  had  multiplied  into  nearly  one 
thousand  and  four  hundred !  Tliere  had  been  sown 
"  a  handful  of  corn  in  the  earth  upon  the  top  of  the 
mountains,  and  the  fruit  thereof  shook  like  Lebanon." 
Revivals  broke  out  in  every  part  of  the  circuit.  The 
power  of  God  was  displayed  in  a  wonderful  manner. 
The  most  hardened  and  haughty  were  softened  and 
subdued  by  the  power  of  the  gospel.  Many  of  the 
vilest,  the  most  wicked,  men  were  converted,  and 
became  exemplary  members  of  the  Church.  Some 
of  these  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  glorifying  the  Lord 
Jesus  by  a  good  confession,  and  at  last  dying  in  the 
triumphs  of  faith. 

Mr.  Hedding,  who  was  then  a  lad  of  nine  or  ten 
years,  ever  after  retained  a  vivid  recollection  of  some 
of  those  early  scenes.  Li  later  years,  when  tempted 
and  buffeted  by  Satan,  he  often  adopted  the  language 
of  the  psalmist, — "  I  will  remember  the  years  of  the 
right  hand  of  the  Most  High.  I  will  remember 
the  works  of  the  Lord :  surely  I  will  remember  thy 
wonders  of  old." 

Among  the  subjects  of  this  great  revival  were  his 
mother,  grandmother,  and  several  other  relatives. 


48  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1789. 


A  class  was  established  in  tlie  neiglibourliood ;  and  his 
mother  became  not  only  a  member,  but  also  a  regu- 
lar attendant.  On  such  occasions  young  Elijah  ac- 
companied her,  so  that  he  was  often  in  class-meet- 
ing. On  preaching  days  the  preacher  was  accus- 
tomed to  meet  the  class  after  the  pubhc  congregation 
had  been  dismissed.  At  one  of  these  meetings,  when 
about  nine  or  ten  years  old,  he  was  the  only  person 
present  who  was  not  a  member.  After  Mr.  Abbot 
had  spoken  to  the  members  he  paused  a  moment,  and 
looked  earnestly  upon  young  Hedding,  and  said, — 
"  Well,  my  boy,  do  you  know  that  you  are  a  sinner  ?" 
He  rephed,  "  Yes,  sir."  Then,  with  great  vehemence 
and  deep  feeling,  Mr.  Abbot  continued, — "  There  is 
many  a  boy  in  hell  not  so  old  as  you  are  and  then 
exhorted  him  with  tremendous  power  to  get  religion. 
This  event  not  only  frightened  him,  but  produced 
real  reHgious  concern.  The  impression  made  upon 
his  mind  lasted  for  several  weeks,  but  finally  wore 
off  without  producing  any  lasting  fruit.  Soon  after 
this  he  fell  into  the  company  of  wicked  boys,  and  by 
degrees  learned  their  language  and  acquired  similar 
habits.  His  religious  feehngs  passed  away,  and  the 
powerful  impressions  that  had  been  made  upon  his 
mind  were  at  length  so  far  effaced  that  he  ran  greedily 
and  thoughtlessly  in  the  way  of  sin.  But  that  impres- 
sion was  not  altogether  lost,  for  in  the  midst  of  his  folly 
and  wickedness  his  conscience  was  often  terribly 
aroused,  and  the  fear  of  death  and  hell  gat  hold  upon 
him.    Thus  in  the  midst  of  seeming  thoughtlessness, 


1791.] 


BIKTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


49^ 


he  was  often  the  subject  of  the  most  intense  concern 
with  regard  to  his  soul. 

In  1Y91  the  parents  of  young  Hedding  emigrated 
to  Yermont,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Startsborough. 
This  was  a  part  of  the  country  then  newly  and  sparsely 
settled,  and  the  family  were  consequently  subjected  to 
the  exposures,  privations,  and  hardships  of  fi*ontier 
life.  In  all  these,  as  well  as  in  the  severe  labour  inci- 
dent to  the  subjugation  of  a  wild  country  and  the 
cultivation  of  a  new  farm,  he  shared  largely  and  will- 
ingly. Familiarity  with  danger  had  begotten  a  dar- 
ing that  bordered  upon  recklessness.  He  was  quick, 
decided,  intrepid.  Being  a  decided  character,  and 
also  possessed  of  both  mental  and  physical  power, 
he  became  in  some  sort  a  leader  of  the  young  men 
who  consorted  with  him.  Yet  was  there  something 
in  him  incomprehensible  even  to  them ;  the  suggest- 
ive remark  upon  some  religious  truth,  or  the  striking 
admonition  that  would  sometimes  fall  from  him,  often 
occasioned  serious  reflections  amidst  the  wild  and 
giddy  scenes  that  occupied  them. 

From  many  of  the  moral  dangers  that  beset  young 
men  in  the  crowded  city  and  large  town,  the  remote 
region  and  the  newly-settled  country  are  compara- 
tively exempt.  But  the  poison  of  infidelity  spreads 
everywhere,  and  it  may  almost  always  be  found 
among  the  restless,  rash,  adventurous  spirits  that 
usually  become  the  pioneers  in  a  new  country.  Thus 
in  very  many  places  infidelity  preceded  the  gospel, 
in  its  introduction  among  the  people,  in  our  earlier 


50  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1791. 


history.  From  tliis  cause  young  Hedding  was  more 
strongly  tempted,  and  his  principles  and  character 
more  fearfully  endangered  during  his  youth,  than 
from  any  other.  Long  before  the  institutions  of  the 
gospel  had  been  established  in  the  place  of  his  resi- 
dence, the  various  forms  of  infidelity  had  made  their 
appearance.  Infidel  books  were  disseminated,  and 
conceited  and  crafty  men  lost  no  opportunity  afibrded 
them  for  attempting  to  undermine  the  confidence 
of  their  neighbours  in  the  principles  of  Christianity. 
Their  puzzling  questions,  which  a  fool  might  ask ; 
and  their  subtile  sophisms,  which  puzzled  the  simple- 
hearted  people  not  possessed  of  sufficient  knowledge 
and  intellectual  acuteness  to  unravel  their  sophistry ; 
and  their  bold  assertion  of  the  great  lies  of  infidelity 
as  so  many  conceded  historical  and  scientific  facts, 
were  the  means  upon  which  they  relied  for  the  dis- 
semination of  the  poison  of  their  unbelief. 

'No  wonder  that  the  mind  of  young  Hedding  was 
deeply  aff'ected  by  these  assaults.  Deism  appeared  to 
him  the  most  inviting  form  of  scepticism,  and  long 
and  earnestly  did  he  seek  to  intrench  himself  within 
the  creed  of  the  deist.  The  form  of  deism  then  prev- 
alent denied  to  man  a  future  hfe  ;  but  the  subject  of 
our  memoir,  though  he  pondered  long  and  deeply  on 
the  subject,  and  marshalled  the  specious  objections  in 
order  before  him  again  and  again ;  nay,  though  he 
resolved  again  and  again  that  he  would  let  go  his 
hold  upon  Christianity  and  be  a  deist,  there  was  ever 
that  in  the  very  instinctive  aspirations  of  his  own 


1795.] 


BIKTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


51 


nature  which  asserted  his  immortality ;  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  it  seemed  most  unreasonable  that  a  God 
of  wisdom,  power,  and  benevolence — as  even  the  God 
of  the  deist  must  be — would  create  such  a  being  as 
man,  endow  him  with  such  rational  faculties,  fill  his 
soul  with  such  aspirations,  and  give  to  him  such 
capacities  for  boundless  improvement,  and  then  cause 
him  at  death  to  go  into  utter  annihilation.  It  was 
thus  that  his  instinctive  sentiments  and  his  reason 
combined  to  deliver  him  from  the  toils  of  deism. 

His  effort  to  settle  down  upon  atheism — the  abso- 
lute denial  of  the  being  of  God — was  no  more  success- 
ful. It  involved  a  mental  conflict  severe  in  its  nature, 
but  of  short  duration.  The  evidences  of  the  Divine 
Being  were  too  clearly  seen  in  all  his  works  to  admit 
of  a  denial  of  his  existence.  As  he  looked  upon  the 
curious  mechanism  of  his  own  body,  the  beautiful  con- 
trivances so  obvious  through  all  the  animal  and  vege- 
table creation,  and  as  he  reflected  upon  the  grandeur, 
harmony,  and  order  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  and  the 
nice  adjustment  of  the  various  forces  acting  upon  them 
to  produce  such  grand  results,  he  said  within  himself: 
"  Here  are  facts  the  verity  of  which  I  cannot  question. 
My  eye  sees  them,  my  hand  feels  them,  my  percep- 
tion and  reason  comprehend  them.  Here  is  con- 
trivance, there  is  design.  Here  is  the  most  exquisite 
adaptation  of  means  or  agencies  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  specific  and  manifest  ends ;  and  there  is  an 
unseen,  mysterious  power  somewhere  that  has  exe- 
cuted, and  which  still  continues  to  carry  into  effect 

3 


52  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1795. 

these  various  plans.  These  facts  I  cannot  question. 
My  reason  then  tells  me  that  there  must  be  some  un- 
seen agency  that  has  contrived,  and  some  unseen 
power  that  has  executed  all  this.  To  believe  that  it 
all  could  have  happened  without  such  an  agency  and 
power  is  ten  thousand  times  more  absurd,  more  con- 
tradictory to  all  the  convictions  of  sound  reason  and 
judgment  than  the  acknowledgment  of  the  being  of 
God,  although  clouds  and  darkness  are  around  about 
him."  But  this  was  not  all.  The  very  instinctive 
sentiments  of  his  nature  warred  against  this  delusion 
also.  "  My  conscience,"  he  says,  "  bore  awful  testimo- 
ny, for  it  then  was  awful  to  me,  that  there  is  a  God." 
ISTor  could  he  look  into  his  Bible — taught  in  it  as  he 
had  been  by  a  mother's  care — without  everywhere 
seeing  evidence  that  it  was  from  God,  and  feeling  that 
God  was  speaking  to  him  through  his  blessed  word. 

'Next  he  sought  refuge  from  his  consciousness  of 
guilt  and  his  fear  of  hell  in  Universalism.  But  he  at 
once  perceived  that  Universalism  implied  the  non- 
existence of  hell,  and  also  of  the  devil ;  and  he  was 
already  too  well  versed  in  the  Scriptures  not  to  per- 
ceive that  hell  was  as  much  an  existing'  fact,  according 
to  the  Bible,  as  heaven  was,  and  also  that  the  person- 
ality of  the  devil  was  as  distinctly  set  forth  as  the  per- 
sonality of  God,  of  Jesus  Christ,  or,  in  fine,  of  any 
existent  intelligent  being  in  the  universe.  Hence  the 
denial  of  the  fact  of  a  hell  and  of  the  real  and  personal 
existence  of  the  devil  could  not  be  made  without  a 
rejection  of  the  Bible  itself ;  and  this  would  land  him 


1795.] 


BIKTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


53 


once  more  in  deism,  if  not  in  rank  atheism,  both  of 
which  systems  he  had  abeady  satisfied  himself  were 
destitute  of  any  substantial  fonndation. 

These  mental  conflicts  form  an  essential  part  of  the 
biography  of  Mr.  Hedding.  They  indicate  his  early 
intellectual  character;  they  indicate  the  trials  and 
disciphne  by  which  his  mind  was  schooled  into  those 
habits  of  research  and  modes  of  thought  which  laid 
the  foundations  of  his  subsequent  greatness  in  the 
Church  of  God. 

Few  have  attained  to  eminence  without  the  severe 
disciplining  of  mental  conflict.  This  seems  to  be 
necessary  to  stir  up  the  latent  energies  of  the  soul, 
and  to  give  that  intensity  to  its  action  which  is  neces- 
sary in  order  to  grand  results.  The  poet  and  the 
philosopher  have  their  disciphne  in  this  respect ;  but 
none,  as  a  class,  go  through  a  more  severe  mental 
ordeal  than  those  who  in  the  end  become  eminent  for 
their  attainments  in  piety,  or  eminent  for  their  useful- 
ness in  the  Church  of  God. 

This  was  a  critical  period — the  most  critical  period 
in  the  life  of  young  Hedding.  Satan,  with  his  allm-e- 
ments,  had  already  ensnared  him  in  practical  evil,  and 
had  perverted  his  heart  to  the  love  of  sin ;  and  now 
his  devices  were  employed  to  shake  the  fabric  and 
undermine  the  foundation  of  his  religious  principles. 
Had  this  latter  device  been  accomphshed  at  this 
period  of  his  hfe,  when  his  character  was  in  a  pecul- 
iar manner  undergoing  the  process  of  formation,  he 
would  probably  have  become  as  firmly  intrenched  in 


54 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1795. 


sin  as  lie  afterward  became  in  the  Christian  faith. 
For  his  dehverance  in  this  season  of  temptation,  and 
his  com2)lete  victory  over  the  enemy  that  had  assaulted 
the  foundations  of  his  religious  faith,  he  was  unques- 
tionably indebted  to  those  religious  instructions  re- 
ceived from  his  mother's  lips  in  early  childhood,  and 
also  to  the  habit,  formed  under  her  guidance,  of  fre- 
quently reading  the  word  of  God,  with  special  effort 
to  understand  its  historical  details  and  its  prophetic 
records,  as  well  as  its  religious  teaching.  These  things 
proved  a  defence  and  a  safeguard  in  the  time  of 
danger. 

The  little  record  he  subsequently  made  of  his  feel- 
ings during  this  period  of  temptation  is  worthy  of 
preservation.  It  at  least  shows  the  wretchedness  of 
a  soul  warring  against  God  and  truth : — 

"  N^otwithstanding  my  temptations  to  embrace  the 
errors  before  alluded  to,  I  beheved  the  doctrines  of 
Methodism,  for  I  had  understood  them  from  the  time 
I  had  heard  Benjamin  Abbot  and  other  Methodist 
preachei^s  preach  on  Dutchess  Circuit.  I  believed  I 
might  be  saved  if  I  would  turn  to  God ;  but  my  love 
for  sin  was  so  strong  I  would  not  give  up  my  idols. 
Occasionally  I  had  a  faint  hope  that  I  might  repent 
and  obtain  mercy  on  a  dying  bed ;  yet  much  of  the 
time  I  was  under  a  painful  apprehension  that  I  should 
be  lost.  I  often  wished  that  there  was  no  God,  or 
that  he  was  such  a  God  as  would  allow  me  to  live 
in  my  sins  and  not  send  me  to  hell.  I  often  wished  I 
could  be  annihilated,  or  I  would  have  been  glad  to 


1795.] 


BIKTH    TO  CONVEKSION. 


55 


be  turned  into  a  brute,  that  I  migbt  be  free  from  the 
liability  of  punisliment  in  another  world.  But,  not- 
withstanding such  vain  wishes,  the  fearful  conviction 
remained  with  me  that  I  had  an  immortal  nature  and 
a  sinful  heart,  and  that  my  sins  must  be  forgiven  by 
the  redeeming  grace  of  Christ,  or  I  could  never  be 
happy  in  another  world." 

About  this  period  he  had  several  narrow  escapes 
from  sudden  death.  One  of  these  instances  is  worthy 
of  note,  not  only  because  of  the  manifest  providence 
of  God  in  his  deliverance,  but  also  because  it  illus- 
trates the  practical  recklessness  of  his  external  life 
and  character,  even  while  his  mind  was  the  subject 
of  such  deep  convictions  and  such  severe  mental  con- 
flicts on  the  subject  of  religion ;  a  case  by  no  means 
singular.  He  was  driving  a  yoke  of  oxen  attached  to 
a  cart  heavily  loaded  with  wheat-sheaves  from  the 
harvest  field.  Having  a  steep  hill  to  descend,  he 
stepped  before  the  oxen  and  attempted  to  check  their 
pace;  but  by  a  sudden  spring  they  knocked  him 
down  and  trampled  him  beneath  their  feet,  and  one 
of  the  wheels  of  the  loaded  cart  passed  over  his  body. 
He  must  have  been  instantly  killed  had  he  not  fallen, 
in  the  good  providence  of  God,  just  below  a  large 
stone,  over  which  the  wheel  passed  and,  by  the  bound, 
scarcely  touched  his  body.  He  thus  speaks  of  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  that  rushed  through  his  mind 
while  the  oxen  were  trampling  him  beneath  their  feet, 
and  the  ponderous  wheels  were  rushing  apparently  to 
his  inevitable  destruction : — 


56  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDINQ.  [1797 

"  It  was  an  awful  moment.  I  saw  no  possibility  of 
escape,  believed  that  I  should  be  killed,  and  expected 
to  be  in  hell  in  a  few  minutes.  K'o  language  can  ex- 
press the  awful  horror  that  oppressed  my  soul  during 
that  brief  moment.  An  age  of  horror  seemed  to  be 
crowded  into  an  instant  of  time.  But  God,  in  his 
providence,  and  in  a  singular  and  unexpected  mode, 
delivered  me." 

No  sooner,  however,  had  the  danger  passed,  than 
he  leaped  to  his  feet.  There  he  stood,  his  heart  still 
quaking  with  fear,  and  conscious  that  he  had  been 
delivered,  as  it  were  by  a  miracle,  from  the  very  jaws 
of  hell.  But  he  must  needs  show  the  men  who  were 
running  from  the  fields  that  he  was  too  courageous  to 
be  the  subject  of  fear  or  of  religious  excitement,  what- 
ever might  be  the  danger ;  and  he  laughed  aloud,  ex- 
claiming, "  i^ot  dead  yet !  not  dead  yet !"  Such  is 
the  presumptuous.  Heaven-daring  hardihood  which 
ungodly  men  mistake  for  courage.  How  much  nobler 
would  it  have  been,  and  how  much  more  of  true  man- 
liness would  it  have  exhibited,  even  in  the  sight  of  his 
companions,  had  he  fallen  down  upon  his  knees  and 
rendered  thanksgiving  for  so  gracious  and  wonderful 
a  deliverance !  This,  no  doubt,  he  would  have  done 
had  he  obeyed  the  better  and  truer  impulses  of  his 
own  heart ;  this  he  probably  would  have  done  had  he 
been  alone  by  himself;  but  the  fear  of  man  involved 
him  in  that  snare  which  has  led  millions  to  perdition 
— the  necessity  of  appearing  reckless  to  avoid  the 
suspicion  of  being  religiously  impressed.    Tlie  event 


1797.] 


BIRTH    TO  CONVERSION. 


57 


soon  passed  by,  and  seemed  to  leave  no  lasting  im- 
pression upon  his  mind;  but  it  could  not  be  easily 
forgotten. 

For  four  or  five  years  after  the  Hedding  family 
settled  in  Starksborough,  the  entire  town  remained 
nearly  destitute  of  religious  meetings  and  privileges. 
A  Baptist  preacher  occasionally  visited  the  place  and 
preached  a  sermon,  but  with  little  effect.  The  Meth- 
odist itinerants,  though  ranging  the  country  in  every 
direction,  had  not  as  yet  penetrated  into  this  part  of 
the  state.  About  this  time,  however,  a  Methodist 
family  moved  into  the  neighbourhood.  Tlie  man  and 
his  wife  were  both  devotedly  pious.  Finding  that 
there  were  no  Sabbath  meetings  in  the  community, 
they  invited  their  neighbours  to  meet  at  their  house, 
and  regular  Sabbath  services  were  kept  up  by  them 
for  two  or  three  years,  and  until  the  appointment 
became  regularly  included  within  the  newly-formed 
circuit  of  Yergennes,  in  1798.  The  meetings  were 
usually  opened  by  singing  and  prayer,  conducted  by 
the  man  himself,  and  afterward  one  of  Wesley's  Ser- 
mons or  a  portion  of  Baxter's  Call  would  be  read  by 
some  one  appointed  for  that  purpose.  Young  Hed- 
ding was  usually  called  upon  to  read  on  these  occa- 
sions ;  and,  though  reluctant  at  first,  the  exercise  soon 
became  far  from  disagreeable — especially  as  the  peo- 
ple seemed  to  listen  with  attention  and  interest.  He 
says :  "It  was  often  a  wonder  to  me  that  I  was  gene- 
rally selected  to  read,  for  I  was  as  wild  and  wicked  as 
any  of  the  young  men  around.    There  was  nothing 


58  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1797. 

in  my  heart  like  love  to  God,  or  in  my  life  like  the 
walk  of  the  Christian.  But  I  suppose  it  was  because 
I  was  a  pretty  good  reader,  probably  the  best  among 
them."  By  this  means  he  became  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  this  pious  couple.  They  were  thorough 
Methodists,  experimentally  and  practically.  They 
were  intelligent,  well  versed  in  Methodist  theology, 
and  well  supplied  with  Methodist  books.  In  these 
books,  which  were  loaned  to  him,  young  Hedding 
found  a  new  source  of  mental  improvement.  They 
were  read  through  and  through,  conned  over  and  dis- 
cussed, till  he  had  not  only  read  every  book  published 
by  the  Methodists,  but  absolutely  mastered  their  con- 
tents. Thus  did  he  early,  and  before  his  heart  was 
renewed  by  divine  grace,  become  thoroughly  convers- 
ant with  the  system  of  Wesleyan  theology ;  and,  in 
preference  to  every  other,  he  embraced  it  heartily  and 
without  the  least  mental  reserve,  as  combining  the 
grand  truths  embodied  in  the  Bible.  Yet  all  this 
while,  he  says  of  himself:  "  I  lived  as  fond  of  my  sins 
as  ever,  and  was  destitute  of  hope,  and  without  God 
in  the  world." 

We  come  now  to  the  dawning  of  a  new  era  in  the 
religious  history  of  the  place  as  well  as  of  the  subject 
of  our  memoir.  Methodism  from  the  beginning  has 
been  a  missionary  system.  Without  waiting  for  a 
call  from  the  people,  and  without  any  stipulations  for 
recompense,  like  the  apostles  of  old,  they  sought  out 
the  people  and  proclaimed  to  them,  through  every 
open  door,  the  message  of  God's  mercy  to  the  lost  and 


1797.] 


BIKTH    TO  CONVERSION. 


59 


guilty  sons  of  men.  Tliej  went  out  eveiywhere.  'No 
pioneer  could  get  beyond  their  reach.  No  fastness 
of  the  wilderness  could  become  impervious  to  them. 
No  prairie  could  be  too  expansive  for  them  to  trav- 
ei'se ;  and  no  people  could  be  too  poor,  or  too  degraded, 
or  too  sinful  to  be  sought  out.  Wherever  the  word 
took  effect  a  class  was  organized,  and  a  leader  charged 
with  its  oversight  and  preservation,  while  the  preacher 
pressed  on  to  the  regions  beyond.*    This  pioneer  sys- 

*  The  following  picture,  taken  from  the  Presbyterian  Christian 
Herald,  is  certainly  a  true  picture  of  early  Methodism — more  applica- 
ble, we  fear,  to  its  "  heroic  age  "  than  to  its  present  genius ;  but  we 
thank  God  that  the  spirit  of  our  fathers  has  not  altogether  departed 
from  us : — 

"No  pioneer  gets  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Methodist  itinerants. 
Though  he  pass  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  pursue  his  game  to  the 
Pacific,  he  soon  finds  the  selfKlenying,  unconquerable,  unescapeable 
Methodist  minister  at  his  side,  summoning  him  to  the  camp-meeting 
and  winning  his  soul  to  Christ !  Thousands  upon  thousands  of 
pioneers,  scattered  like  sheep  and  almost  lost  from  the  world,  in 
those  far-oflf  wilds  of  the  West,  have  blessed  God  for  raising  up  Wes- 
ley and  the  Methodists. 

"  The  Catholics  can  do  nothing  with  these  stirring  people.  They 
are  nonplussed,  outstripped,  and  outdone  by  the  simple  and  fervent 
Methodists.  While  Romanists  are  piling  up  their  stone  churches  to 
last  for  ages,  hanging  their  massive  bells,  fastening  their  images, 
and  displaying  their  trinkets  sent  from  Europe,  the  self-denying 
Methodist  starts  forth,  caring  little  where  he  shall  lay  his  head, 
erects  his  tent  by  the  side  of  some  stream  in  the  wilderness,  and 
blows  his  horn  to  call  the  hunter  from  the  chase  and  the  ploughman 
from  his  yet  unfenced  fields.  The  sounds  of  the  gospel  are  impressive 
in  those  solitudes.  The  people  gladly  hear.  God  is  there.  They  see 
his  emblems  in  the  majestic  trees.  They  hear  him  in  the  winds. 
They  see  him  and  they  hear  him  in  the  man  of  God,  who  has  left  all 
and  come  to  them  in  love.  Such  love,  and  such  manifestations  of 
goodness  are  overpowering.  Rough  souls  are  melted  down,  hard 
hearts  are  subdued  and  converted,  and  huge  hands  are  soon  seen  rear- 
ing up  a  house  for  God  in  the  wilderness  !  Other  settlers  are  now 
3* 


60 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1797. 


tern  taxed  tlie  itinerant  with  severe  labour,  exposed 
him  to  ahnost  constant  peril,  and  often  reduced  him 
almost  to  a  state  of  destitution  and  want.  Imbued 
with  his  high  commission  and  filled  with  the  spirit 
of  his  Master,  he  esteemed  the  reproach  of  Christ 
greater  treasure  than  all  the  riches  of  Egypt.  "With 
his  Bible,  his  Hymn-book,  his  horse,  and  his  scantily 
filled  saddle-bags  as  his  companions,  the  young 
minister  commenced  at  once  his  labours  and  his 
song : — 

"  The  love  of  Christ  doth  me  constrain 
To  seek  the  wandering  souls  of  men, 
With  cries,  entreaties,  tears  to  save — 
To  snatch  them  from  a  gaping  grave." 

ITo  other  system  and  no  other  spirit  could  so  well  meet 
the  wants  of  a  new,  sparsely-settled,  and  poor  people. 
It  seemed  almost  indispensable  that  the  advent  of  the 
minister  should  precede  the  organization  of  the  society 
and  the  erection  of  the  church.    If  he  waited  for  a 

attracted  around  this  spot ;  and  presently  here  is  a  thriving  Chris- 
tian village ! 

"  In  the  mean  time,  the  minister  has  passed  on  and  enacted  similar 
scenes  elsewhere.  In  a  few  years  several  Churches  are  formed,  each 
nearly  as  numerous,  it  may  be,  and  far  more  spirited  and  happy, 
than  the  one  which  the  Romanists  have  collected  from  their  bigoted 
immigrants,  taught  to  count  beads  and  to  swallow  down  the  Latin 
which  is  roared  forth  in  their  costly  edifice  from  a  European  organ 
and  a  babbling  priest ! 

"  Thus  it  is  that  the  Methodists  have  secured  such  large  numbers 
in  the  mighty  West.  Spirit,  energy,  economy,  and  self-sacrifice  have 
made  them  an  overmatch  for  the  Catholic  host !  They  constitute  the 
largest  division  of  that  great  army  which,  I  believe,  God  will  use  to 
make  Protestantism  completely  triumphant  in  our  country." 


1798.] 


BIRTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


61 


"call"  from  the  people,  Satan  would  preoccupy  the 
ground.  *  However  such  a  system  might  answer  for  a 
densely-populated  region,  with  societies  organized  and 
churches  erected,  to  a  new  country  the  preacher  must 
go  sent  of  God,  and  not  called  by  the  people. 

In  the  year  1798  the  aggressive  spirit  of  the 
Methodist  itinerancy  began  to  make  systematic  in- 
roads into  Vermont.  The  Yergennes  Circuit  was 
formed,  and  Joseph  Mitchell  and  Abner  "Wood  ap- 
pointed to  labour  upon  it.  As  it  regards  the  geo- 
graphical limits  of  the  circuit,  they  were  somewhat 
indefinite,  and  liable  to  incessant  enlargement  as  the 
providence  of  God  opened  the  way  to  new  preaching 
places  in  destitute  towns  and  villages.  This  much, 
however,  we  can  say,  that,  as  originally  marked  out, 
it  included  an  immense  sphere  of  travel  and  toil,  of 
more  than  five  hundred  miles  in  compass,  and  re- 
•  quired  from  four  to  six  weeks  to  complete  one  round 
— the  preacher,  besides  riding  many  miles,  preaching 
once  or  twice  on  each  week-day,  and  three  times  on 
each  Sabbath,  and  at  many  of  the  appointments  also 
leading  class  or  conducting  a  prayer  meeting.  Mr. 
Mitchell  continued  on  this  circuit  two  years,  endur- 
ing the  privations  and  trials,  and  performing  the 
Herculean  tasks  incident  to  a  new  field  of  labour, 
but  effectually  breaking  up  the  ground  for  his  suc- 
cessors. He  was  in  every  respect  fitted  for  his  work 
— a  man  of  extraordinary  natural  powers — a  natural 
logician,  a  shrewd  wit ;  deficient  indeed  in  scholastic 
education,  but  with  all  his  faculties  richly  indued  and 


62  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1798. 

acutely  quickened  by  a  most  efficient  practical  edu 
cation.  He  was  a  most  energetic  and  overpowering 
preaclier.  Like  a  flaming  fire  he  ranged  tlirough 
the  country,  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
preaching  Christ  and  him  crucified,  in  demonstration 
of  the  Spirit  and  with  power.  A  memorable  revival 
attended  upon  his  labours.  Up  to  this  time,  the 
mother  of  young  Hedding  and  the  pious  couple  of 
whom  we  have  spoken  were  the  only  Methodists 
in  the  town  of  Starksborough.  But  now  a  host  was 
raised  up.  The  revival  was  remarkable  not  only  for 
the  number  of  its  subjects,  but  also  for  the  variety  of 
their  characters  and  the  powerful  manifestation  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  many  of  the  meetings.  Lorenzo 
Dow,  in  his  Journal,  relates  an  instance  of  Mr. 
Mitchell's  power  in  the  pulpit,  which  occurred  at  a 
quarterly  meeting.  His  preaching  produced  such  an 
effect  that  none  of  the  usual  ecclesiastical  business  of 
these  occasions  could  be  transacted;  but  the  entire 
time  was  spent  in  public  exercises  and  direct  effort 
for  the  salvation  of  souls.  When  he  began  to  exhort, 
a  trembling  commenced  among  the  unconverted ; 
first  one,  then  another,  fell  from  their  seats,  and  began 
to  cry  for  mercy.  The  influence  spread  till  the  cry 
became  general ;  and  for  eleven  hours  there  was  no 
cessation  of  the  loud  cries  and  supplications  of  that 
smitten  assembly.  The  wail  of  agony  and  the  almost 
despairing  cry  for  mercy,  were  not  unfrequently 
changed  into  the  shout  of  victoiy  and  the  song  of 
triumph  on  that  memorable  occasion.     Tlie  most 


1798.] 


BIKTH    TO  CONVERSION. 


63 


ahandoned,  profligate,,  and  wicked  men,^ — ^the  cavil- 
ling, sceptical  deist,  tlie  bold  blaspheming  atheist,  and 
tlie  brawling  Universalist, — were  alike  humbled  to  the 
foot  of  the  cross ;  and  by  the  power  of  divine  grace 
were  at  length  renewed  and  clothed  in  their  right 
mind.  Many  and  bright  stars,  which  now  stud  the 
crown  of  the  devoted  itinerant,  were  gathered  here. 
When  the  two  years  of  Mr.  Mitchell  were  completed, 
in  1800,  Vermont  numbered  six  circuits,  and  a  mem- 
bership of  one  thousand  and  ninety-five.  Truly 
God,  in  a  short  time,  had  accomplished  a  great  work. 
Mr.  Mitchell  subsequently  located  and  moved  to  the 
^tate  of  Illinois,  where  he  finished  his  course  in  peace. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  experience  of  the  subject 
of  our  narrative.  His  first  permanent  religious  im- 
pressions were  made  by  the  conversations  of  the 
pious  Methodist  woman — "mother  in  Israel" — al- 
ready noticed.  She  perceived  his  promising  talents 
and  strong  moral  susceptibilities,  and  devoted  herself 
to  the  task  of  leading  him  to  God.  Her  mind  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  would 
be  called  to  important  services'  in  the  Church  of 
God,  and  she  laboured  the  more  earnestly  to  efiect 
his  salvation.  She  conversed  with  him  frequently, 
earnestly,  and  often  tearfully,  on  the  interests  of  his 
soul ;  and  succeeded  at  last  in  awakening  in  his  mind 
a  deep  concern  for  his  spiritual  safety.  All  honour 
to  this  faithful,  noble-hearted  Christian  woman.*  She 

■^Her  name  was  Bushnell.  She  had  previously  resided  in 
Canaan,  one  of  the  north-western  towns  of  Connecticut.  Educated 


64 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1798. 


was  jealous  for  the  cause  of  God,  and  y earned  for  the 
salvation  of  a  soul  that  was  lost.  But  little  did  she 
know  how  high  an  honour  God  was  putting  upon  her, 
in  making  her  the  chief  instrument  in  the  conversion 
of  one  who  was  to  win  many  souls  to  Christ,  and  become 
one  of  the  great  lights  of  the  Church  and  the  world. 

During  the  first  six  months  of  the  work  of  grace  that 
was  spreading  through  the  region,  young  Hedding 
attended  the  meetings,  but  obstinately  resisted  the 
strivings  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  This  devoted  woman 
however  had  singled  him  out  as  a  special  subject  of 
prayer,  and  followed  him  with  persevering  effort  till 
the  great  end  was  attained.    One  Sabbath-day  after 

in  the  Calvinistic  faith,  and  accustomed  to  hear  Calvinism  preached, 
her  mind  had  become  perplexed  and  bewildered  with  regard  to 
religious  truth.  Long  perplexed  and  tried,  without  obtaining  any 
relief,  she  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  she  was  one  of  the 
reprobates.  This  aften  occasioned  her  great  distress  of  mind.  At 
length  she  heard  that  a  Methodist  preacher  was  to  preach  in  her 
neighbourhood.  This  was  the  first  time  she  had  ever  heard  of  such 
a  people,  and  out  of  curiosity  went  to  hear  the  novel  preacher.  The 
expectation  of  deriving  any  spiritual  advantage  from  his  ministry  was 
furthest  from  her  thoughts.  He  commenced  the  exercises  by  an- 
nouncing and  then  singing  the  hymn  beginning, — 

"  Come,  sinners,  to  the  gospel  feast, 
Let  every  soul  be  Jesus'  guest ; 
Ye  need  not  one  be  left  behind. 
For  God  hath  bidden  all  mankind.''* 

It  was  a  new  but  glorious  doctrine  to  her.  She  said  to  herself, — 
"  Can  this  be  true  ?  Has  Christ  indeed  invited  all  mankind  ? 
Then  /,  even  /,  who  have  been  so  long  buffeted  by  Satan,  may 
come.  I  will  come  now."  From  that  moment  she  sought  salvation 
through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  soon  rejoiced  as  one  of  the 
chosen  of  the  Lord.  She  was  a  woman  highly  gifted,  and  of  deep 
and  consistent  piety. 


1798.] 


BIRTH  TO  CONVERSION. 


65 


he  had  been  reading  in  meeting,  this  pious  woman, 
when  the  congregation  had  separated,  addressed  him 
with  such  an  earnest  exhortation  that  his  heart  was 
deeply  affected ;  and  as  he  jonmejed  homeward  he 
turned  into  a  grove,  and  kneeled  down  by  a  large 
tree,  and  covenanted  with  God  to  cease  from  his 
follies  and  sins,  to  part  with  all  his  idols,  and  to  de- 
vote himself  sincerely  and  earnestly,  and  at  any  and 
every  cost  Gk)d  might  require,  to  the  great  work  of 
his  soul's  salvation.  Over  fifty  years  after,  and  but 
a  short  time  before  he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers, 
referring  to  this  event,  he  said  to  the  writer, — - 
"  In  that  hour  I  solemnly  made  a  dedication  of  my- 
self to  God.  I  laid  my  all — soul,  body,  goods,  and 
all — for  time  and  for  eternity,  upon  the  altar,  and  I 
have  never,  never  taken  them  back."  He  did  not 
then,  however,  find  relief  aside  from  the  conscious 
satisfaction  of  having  done  his  duty ;  nor  did  he  re- 
ceive any  satisfactory  evidences  of  his  acceptance 
with  God.  "  This  "  said  he,  "  was  the  first  time  in 
my  life  that  I  remember  to  have  had  the  full  consent 
of  my  will  to  part  with  all  my  sins  for  Christ's  sake. 
My  associates,  hitherto,  had  been  chiefly  those  who 
were  fond  of  pleasure  and  mirth,  and  in  their  amuse- 
ments I  took.special  delight.  Several  times  before,  I 
seemed  willing  to  give  up  everything  except  these 
social  pleasures,  but  never  until  now  while  kneeling 
in  the  grove  had  this  great  idol  of  my  heart  been 
surrendered." 

Not  long  after  this,  he  heard  a  sermon  from  Joseph 


66  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  L1798. 

Mitchell.  It  was  a  discourse  of  remarkable  power, 
and  disclosed  to  him,  in  a  manner  he  had  never  before 
perceived,  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,  and  the 
peril  of  the  um*enewed  soul.  He  was  seized  with  un- 
utterable anguish,  and  for  several  weeks  sought  Grod 
with  strong  cries  and  tears,  night  and  day.  "  I  was  so 
overwhelmed,"  says  he,  "  that  I  could  not  refrain  from 
crying  aloud.  I  could  not  breathe  without  an  expres- 
sion of  anguish.  Though  I  had  long  prided  myself 
upon  being  perfectly  fortified  against  childish  feelings 
and  tears,  yet  for  six  weeks  I  could  not  bear  religious 
conversation  or  a  prayer,  nor  could  I  read  the  Bible 
or  any  religious  book,  without  being  melted  into  ten- 
derness and  pouring  out  a  flood  of  tears."  In  six 
weeks  the  itinerant  evangelist  came  around  again,  and 
preached  in  the  house  where  the  youthful  penitent 
had  been  accustomed  to  read  the  sermons  of  Wesley. 
After  preaching,  a  class-meeting  was  held  by  the 
preacher,  as  usual,  and  young  Hedding  remained  in 
the  class.  As  the  meeting  was  about  being  closed 
the  preacher,  perceiving  the  great  distress  of  his  mind, 
proposed  special  prayer  in  his  behalf.  The  man  of 
God  and  the  pious  cottagers  bowed  around  him,  and 
continued  in  supplication  until  God  in  great  mercy 
spoke  peace  to  his  soul.  His  burden  of  ^uilt  was  re- 
moved, his  conscience  was  now  at  rest,  and  peace  and 
joy  sprung  up  in  his  hitherto  troubled  soul.  This  was 
on  the  2Tth  of  December,  1Y98  ;  and  on  that  very  day 
his  name  was  enrolled  as  a  probationer  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


1798.] 


BIKTH    TO  CONVEKSION. 


67 


He  appears  not  to  have  received  at  this  time  the 
witness  of  the  Spirit  to  his  adoption.  Though  he  en- 
joyed peace,  this  great  blessing  was  still  wanting  in 
order  to  the  fulness  of  his  joj.  On  this  point  he  him- 
self says, — "  About  six  weeks  after  the  time  when  I 
felt  the  burden  of  guilt  removed  from  my  conscience, 
during  a  conversation  with  Mr.  Mitchell  on  the  wit- 
ness of  the  Spirit,  the  light  of  the  Spirit  broke  in 
upon  my  mind,  as  clear  and  perceptible  to  me  as  the 
shining  of  the  sun  when  it  comes  from  behind  a  cloud, 
testifying  that  I  was  born  of  God.  Then  my  heart 
was  filled  with  joy  and  my  mouth  with  praise. 

•  Jesus  all  the  day  long  was  my  joy  and  my  song/ 

For  several  weeks  after  this,  not  a  doubt,  nor  a  fear, 
nor  a  moment's  uncertainty  clouded  my  spirit.  Satan 
was  not  permitted  to  tempt  me.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
old  adversary  himself  was  chained,  aud  my  whole 
soul  was  love,  and  my  whole  time  was  employed  in 
prayer  and  praise.  As  an  evidence  how  completely 
the  thoughts  of  religion  occupied  my  mind  and  affect- 
ed my  conduct,  it  may  be  stated  that  during  the 
winter  I  went  to  live  with  a  man  who  resided  in  the 
town,  and  was  distinguished  for  his  knowledge  of 
arithmetic,*  that  I  might  have  a  better  opportunity 
of  studying  this  branch  of  education ;  but  my  mind 
while  under  conviction,  and  after  my  conversion,  and 

The  possession  of  any  competent  knowledge  of  arithmetic,  at 
that  day,  was  more  uncommon  in  the  community  than  the  mastery 
of  the  highest  mathematical  calculus  at  the  present. 


68  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDINQ.  [1798. 

especially  when  I  had  received  the  witness  of  the 
Spirit,  was  so  carried  away  by  the  all-absorbing  power 
of  divine  grace,  that  I  could  give  no  attention  to  math- 
ematics, but  was  wholly  engaged  in  studying  the  Bible, 
learning  religious  hymns,  and  in  the  exercise  of  devo- 
tion. I  who  used  to  be  sorry  that  I  had  a  soul,  and 
regret  that  I  had  been  born  into  the  world,  continu- 
ally rejoiced  that  I  had  been  born  to  be  bora  again." 

The  mathematician  with  whom  he  had  gone  to 
study  was  soon  converted  in  a  most  striking  and 
powerful  manner.  He  was  what  would  generally  be 
called  a  moral  man,  but  was  proud  and  self-confi- 
dent, and  with  reference  to  religion  to  all  appearance 
thoroughly  hardened  and  unfeeling.  Tlie  power  of 
God  now  got  hold  upon  him ;  he  went  for  some  weeks 
with  his  ^head  bowed  down,  and  his  countenance  the 
picture  of  sadness  and  melancholy.  He  said  little  to 
any  one  about  the  state  of  his  mind,  till  at  length, 
at  a  prayer  meeting,  his  feelings  overcame  him.  He 
turned  pale,  his  frame  shook  like  an  aspen  leaf,  and 
his  soul  seemed  rent  with  contending  emotions.  At 
length  he  cried  aloud  and  fell  to  the  floor.  In  the 
greatest  agony  he  cried  out,  "I  am  going  to  hell! 
I  am  going  to  hell !"  He  continued  to  cry  out  till 
he  became  almost  exhausted.  The  people  bade  him 
look  to  Jesus  the  great  Saviour,  and  wrestled  mightily 
with  God  in  his  behalf.  At  length  he  was  heard  to  mur- 
mur in  a  faint  voice, — "  Christ  died  for  me."  Then 
in  a  higher  tone  he  repeated, — "  He  died  for  me ;"  and 
instantly  sprung  upon  his  feet  and  shouted  aloud, — 


1798.1 


BIRTH    TO  CONVERSION. 


69 


"  My  sins  are  all  forgiven ;  Christ  has  died  for  me. 
Glory  to  God  in  the  highest!"  Sudden  and  violent  as 
was  the  transition  of  this  man  from  sin  to  grace,  his 
course  thenceforward,  for  over  forty  years,  and  until 
he  went  up  at  the  call  of  his  Lord  to  receive  the 
reward  of  the  faithful,  afforded  the  best  possible 
evidence  of  the  soundness  of  his  conversion  and  the 
thoroughness  of  the  work  of  grace  in  his  heart. 

We  have  now  followed  the  subject  of  our  memoir 
through  his  youthful  career,  and  noted  the  various 
causes  that  combined  to  give  peculiar  development 
to  his  intellectual  and  religious  character.  We  find 
him  now  a  soundly-converted  and  deeply-devoted 
young  man, — just  about  entering  upon  that  career  of 
toil  and  self-sacrifice,  and  yet  of  extended  and  honour- 
able usefulness,  which  was  continued  through  the  lapse 
of  more  than  half  a  century,  and  made  his  name  im- 
mortal in  the  annals  of  the  Church  of  God.  It  is  well 
then  to  pause  for  a  moment  and  take  a  brief  survey 
of  the  special  and  signal  agencies  that  deserve  special 
recognition.  Throughout,  we  cannot  fail  to  see  that 
God,  by  his  gracious  providence,  was  preparing  a 
chosen  vessel  to  bear  the  messages  of  his  grace  to  dy- 
ing men.  Subjected  to  the  hard  labour  of  a  new 
farm,  and  accustomed  to  the  privations  and  dangers 
of  frontier  life,  he  acquired  not  only  a  hardy  and 
vigorous  constitution, — and,  in  fact,  an  almost  gigantic 
physical  development,  being  over  six  feet  in  height, 
and  of  fine  manly  proportions  throughout, — ^but  that 
daring  of  spirit,  that  ingenuity  in  overcoming  obstacles 


70  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1798. 

and  meeting  emergencies,  that  power  of  endurance, 
and  that  indomitable  energy  and  force  of  character, 
that  were  indispensable  in  the  work  for  which  Divine 
Providence  was  preparing  him.  No  schools  of  human 
nor  of  divine  learning  could  have  supplied  anything 
that  would  have  answered  as  a  substitute.  He  might 
have  been  possessed  of  the  profoundest  learning  and 
the  richest  graces,  but  still,  without  this  physical  and 
mental  adaptation  he  would  have  been  inadequate  to 
such  labours  and  privations.  He  would  most  likely, 
as  hundreds  have  done,  have  become  discouraged 
and  failed,  or  broken  down  in  his  work  and  gone  to 
a  prematm-e  grave. 

"We  have  also  noticed  the  early  effects  of  a  mother's 
religious  teaching  in  planting  the  seeds  of  religious 
truth  in  his  young  heart,  and  leaving  there  the  in- 
effaceable conviction  of  religious  duty.  Then,  too, 
stand  worthy  of  notice  the  providential  circumstances 
that  gave  him  access  to  the  ablest  productions  of  John 
Wesley,  Fletcher,  and  the  other  fathers  of  Methodism, 
when  hardly  any  other  books  could  be  had  to  grat- 
ify his  taste  for  reading.  His  controversies  with 
sceptics  and  fatalists  not  only  shai*pened  his  logical 
powers,  but  led  him  to  study  thoroughly  the  great 
principles  of  the  Wesleyan  theology.  His  own 
mental  conflicts,  no  less  than  the  impulses  of  a 
mind  naturally  inquisitive,  and  possessed  of  great 
powers  of  reason  and  analysis,  led  him  to  survey, 
step  by  step,  every  foundation-stone  in  the  great  tem- 
ple of  the  Christian  faith.    While  all  this  was  going 


1799.] 


BIRTH   TO  CONVERSION. 


71 


on  silently  in  liis  own  mind,  tlie  necessity,  in  some 
sort,  that  was  laid  upon  him  to  become  the  reader 
in  the  Sabbath  convocations,  not  only  developed  his 
talents,  and  habituated  him  to  their  exercise  in 
the  presence  of  an  assembly,  but  also  proved  an 
additional  incitement  to  a  more  thorough  mastery  of 
the  great  teachings  of  revealed  truth.  IS'ext  comes 
the  noble  mother  in  Israel,  illusti-ating  by  her  life  the 
practical  beauty  of  rehgion,  richly  endowed  with  the 
wisdom  that  cometh  down  from  God,  breathing  holy 
counsels  into  the  heart  of  the  young  man,  and  send- 
ing up  to  heaven  faithful  prayers  for  his  salvation. 
And  then,  when  the  way  was  all  prepared,  the  flam- 
ing herald  of  the  cross  appeai-s.  He  is  sent  by 
Heaven.  His  mission  is  in  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit.  The  dry  bones  in  the  valley  of  death  live. 
It  is  now  that  the  mental  discipHne,  the  knowledge, 
and  the  doctrinal  theories  of  the  young  man  received 
their  crowning  glory  in  the  sound  and  manifest 
renewal  of  his  heart.  Such  was  the  school  in  which 
God  prepared  him  for  his  great  work.  How  wisely 
adapted  were  the  agencies  to  the  end  they  were 
designed  to  accomplish ! 


72  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  U799. 


CHAPTEE  n. 

COMMENCES  HIS  ITINERANT  CAREER. 

General  Conviction  of  the  People — Public  Exercises — Talents  and  Graces  de- 
veloped by  the  Methodist  Economy — Exercises  of  his  Mind  with  reference 
to  the  Ministry — Receives  an  Exhorter's  License — Holds  Meetings — Lo- 
renzo Dow — Leaves  his  Circuit — Young  Hedding  called  out  to  succeed 
him — His  Labours — Rowdies  frightened — A  Furious  Bully — A  Brother 
checked — Perplexed  about  his  Duty — His  First  Sermon — The  Question 
solved — Subsequent  joyful  Experience — The  Retrospect — Called  out  by 
the  Elder — Shadrach  Bostwick — Admitted  on  Trial  in  the  New-York  Con- 
ference— His  Companions — The  Church— Circuits  and  Circuit  Labours—: 
Primitive  Presiding  Elders'  Districts — Motives  of  Human  Action — 
These  Men  and  their  Work — The  Standard-Bearers  in  the  New- York 
Conference — Appointed  to  Plattsburgh — The  Circuit — Discouragements 
— His  Colleague — His  Studies — Thoroughness  of  his  Investigations — An 
Illustration — Abundant  in  Labours — New  Ground  broken  up — Still  An- 
other— Closes  the  Conference  Year. 

Yeky  soon  after  his  conversion,  the  conviction  be- 
came very  general  among  the  people  that  God 
would  in  due  time  thrust  the  young  convert  out  into 
the  ministry,  l^o  doubt  the  subject  presented  itself 
to  his  own  mind  also,  but  it  was  not  in  the  form  of  a 
distinct  and  unequivocal  call  from  God.  But  his  heart 
was  too  deeply  engaged  in  the  great  work  that  was 
progressing  for  him  to  remain  inactive.  Soon  after  his 
conversion,  he  began  to  pray  and  to  exhort  in  public. 

The  economy  of  the  Methodist  Church  was  well 
calculated  to  develop  the  talents  of  such  young  men. 
It  trained  them  not  in  seminaries  and  colleges,  but 
in  the  field  of  action.    However  indispensable  the 


1799.]    COMMENCES   HIS   ITINERANT   CAREER.  73 

former  liave  become  in  a  later  -age — an  age  of  more 
refinement  and  of  more  general  intelligence — the  lat- 
ter was  the  only  one  that  could  meet  the  emergencies 
of  those  times.  First,  the  simple  narration  of  Chris- 
tian experience — the  tale  of  spiritual  conflicts  and 
triumphs,  of  sorrows  and  heavenly  joys,  uttered 
weekly  among  sympathizing  and  encouraging  breth- 
ren in  the  class  room ;  then  the  exercise  of  prayer  in 
the  social  assembly,  often  gathered  to  mingle  in  songs 
of  praise  and  fervent  intercessions  at  the  mercy-seat ; 
next  the  exhortation  in  the  public  assembly;  and 
finally,  the  ministration  of  the  word  to  assemblies, 
convened  often  in  private  houses,  rustic  in  their  char- 
acter, but  hungering  for  the  bread  of  life — such  a 
training  kept  alive  the  holy  fire  in  the  heart,  and  at 
the  same  time  developed  that  ready  and  effective 
practical  talent  admirably  adapted  to  the  times. 

Such  was  the  school  in  which  young  Hedding  was 
being  trained  for  the  great  work  of  God  in  which  he 
was  afterward  to  take  so  conspicuous  a  part.  At  first 
his  own  convictions  in  relation  to  his  duty  were  not 
clear ;  and  he  determined  that  nothing  should  induce 
him  to  enter  the  ministry  before  he  was  clearly  con- 
vinced that  he  was  called  by  God  to  the  work.  The 
preachers  sometimes  told  him  it  was  his  duty  to 
preach,  and  once,  at  a  quarterly  conference,  a  license 
was  offered  him ;  but  he  uniformly  replied  that  he 
was  not  satisfied  that  God  had  called  him,  and  he  was 
not  willing  to  run  before  he  was  sent.  His  views  of 
the  great  responsibilities  of  the  minister's  calling,  and 


74  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1799, 

the  necessity  for  eminent  qualifications,  as  well  as  a 
special  call  from  God  himself  for  the  work,  and, 
withal,  his  views  of  personal  mifitness,  made  him  im- 
willing  to  believe  it  his  duty  whenever  the  subject 
was  presented  to  him.  Still  he  could  not  divest  his 
mind  of  the  impression  that  he  ought  to  preach,  and 
waited  for  God  to  make  known  to  him  his  duty  in 
such  a  manner  as  would  remove  all  doubts.  In  the 
mean  time  he  was  constantly,  and  with  absorbing 
interest,  engaged  in  the  study  of  the  Bible.  He  con- 
tinued also  to  exercise  his  talents  in  public  prayer  and 
exhortation  as  opportunity  offered.  The  love  of 
Christ  fired  his  heart,  and  his  fine  and  abeady  some- 
what exercised  talents  were  often  employed  with 
powerfal  effect. 

He  had  hardly  been  admitted  into  full  membership 
in  the  Cliurch,  before  he  was  persuaded  by  his  breth- 
ren to  receive  an  "  exhorter's  license."  'Now  also  he 
began  to  extend  his  labours  beyond  his  own  neighbour- 
hood, and  to  visit  the  regions  round  about,  labouring  to 
persuade  sinners  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  Sometimes 
he  was  induced  to  appoint  meetings  and  conduct  them 
himself;  but  most  generally  he  accompanied  or  met 
the  circuit  preacher  at  his  appointments,  and  deliv- 
ered an  exhortation  at  the  close  of  the  sermon.  His 
word  was  often  made  the  power  of  God  in  quicken- 
ing and  saving  souls  ;  and  his  brethren,  especially  the 
faithful  ministers  of  Christ,  rejoiced  at  the  evidence 
of  his  growing  gifts  and  graces. 

At  the  conference  in  1799  the  Essex  Circuit  was 


1799.]    COMMENCES   HIS   ITINERANT  CAREEE.  75 

formed,  and  the  eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow,  tlien  in  the 
second  year  of  his  itinerant  ministry,  was  appointed 
to  labour  upon  it.  The  circuit  was  very  large,  and 
spread  over  a  rough  and  wild  country.  It  embraced 
the  whole  tract  of  country  lying  between  Lake  Cham- 
plain  and  the  Green  Mountains,  and  extending  from 
the  Onion  River  in  Vermont  northward  some  twenty 
or  thirty  miles  into  Canada.  For  a  few  months  Dow 
travelled  and  laboured  with  incredible  diligence,  and 
his  ministry  was  attended  with  great  success ;  but  at 
the  end  of  this  period  he  suddenly  left  his  work. 
Imagining  that  he  had  received  a  special  and  divine 
mission  to  preach  in  Ireland,  he  immediately  set  sail 
for  that  country.  All  eyes  were  now  turned  upon  the 
young  exhorter  as  a  necessary  supply  for  the  vacancy. 
Under  great  constraint,  and  in  view  of  the  necessities 
of  the  work,  he  at  length  consented,  and,  in  the  month 
of  [N'ovember,  when  but  little  over  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  within  less  than  a  year  from  the  time  of  his 
conversion,  went  to  the  circuit.  His  labours  here 
were  of  the  most  arduous  character.  It  required  not 
less  than  three  hundred  miles'  travel  to  complete  one 
round  upon  the  circuit,  which  occupied  four  weeks. 
During  this  time  he  held  regularly  three  meetings  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  met  class  at  the  close  of  each ;  and 
at  least  one,  often  two,  on  each  day  of  the  week,  be- 
sides frequent  prayer  meetings.  During  this  period 
young  Hedding,  being  only  an  exliorter,  conscien- 
tiously avoided  the  show  or  fact  of  preaching.  He 
says  of  himself,  that  "instead  of  taking  a  text  I 


76 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDIXG. 


[1799. 


delivered  an  exliortation  usually  about  an  hour  long." 
TTiR  word  was  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with 
power ;  revivals  broke  out,  the  work  of  God  moved 
forward  in  every  direction,  ^'  and  much  people  was 
added  to  the  Lord."  It  was  now  fully  evident  that 
he  was  a  chosen  vessel  unto  God  to  bear  his  name  be- 
fore the  people  and  the  Church.  Having  filled  the 
time  of  his  engagement,  he  returned  home,  and 
renewed  his  former  occupation  upon  the  farm. 

"Wliile  upon  the  circuit  he  encountered  much  oppo- 
sition from  the  emissaries  of  Satan,  who  were  especially 
busy  whenever  the  attention  of  the  people  was  power- 
fully awakened  to  the  concerns  of  the  soul.  At  one 
time,  while  holdmg  an  evening  meeting  in  Canada, 
there  came  a  number  of  young  men  who  had  banded 
together  to  break  up  the  meeting.  But  the  power  of 
God  got  hold  upon  them ;  they  became  terribly  fright- 
ened, and  all  of  them,  except  one,  fled  with  precipita- 
tion from  the  house.  He  was  so  mightily  wrought 
upon  that  he  had  not  power  to  go,  and  at  length  fell 
upon  the  floor,  crying  aloud  for  mercy.  He  drew  out 
a  large  club  he  had  concealed  beneath  his  overcoat, 
and  confessed  with  shame  and  horror  the  guilty  inten- 
tions with  which  he  and  his  comrades  had  come  to  the 
meeting.  Then  he  besought  the  people  to  pray  for 
him,  for  he  was  trembling  over  the  very  abyss  of  hell. 
The  people  prayed  earnestly  for  his  salvation ;  and 
that  very  night  God  spoke  peace  to  his  soul  in  so 
powerful  and  wonderful  a  manner  that  he  shouted 
aloud,  and  went  to  his  home  praising  God. 


1799.]    COMMENCES   HIS   ITINERANT    CAREER.  77 


At  anottier  place  in  Canada,  after  Mr.  Hedding 
had  delivered  his  message,  a  young  extorter  addressed 
the  people.  Two  young  men  in  the  congregation 
were  disorderly  and  disturbed  the  meeting,  and  were 
deservedly  rebuked  by  the  speaker.  At  the  close  of 
the  public  service,  as  the  class  remained,  Mr.  Hed- 
ding observed  that  the  two  young  men  remained  in 
the  house,  and,  believing  that  they  tarried  only  for 
mischief,  he  desired  the  class  to  retire  into  another 
room.  The  young  men  went  outside  the  door ;  but, 
unknown  to  those  within,  waited  till  the  class-meeting 
was  dismissed.  As  the  exhorter,  who  w^as  somewhat 
in  advance  of  Mr.  Hedding,  stepped  out  of  the  door, 
one  of  them  struck  him  and  knocked  him  to  the 
ground,  and  as  he  attempted  to  rise  repeated  the 
blow  with  like  effect.  Mr.  Hedding  then  grasped  the 
prostrate  young  man  and  drew  him  into  the  house, 
while  the  people  closed  in  between  him  and  his  as- 
saulter and  prevented  the  repetition  of  the  blows. 
The  foiled  bully  then  seemed  to  be  enraged  beyond 
all  bounds.  He  ran  out  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet 
from  the  house,  jumped  up  and  down,  and  smote  his 
fists  together  with  great  violence,  cursed,  swore,  and 
blasphemed,  and  defied  any  one  there  to  come  out  and 
fight  with  him.  At  that  moment  Mr.  Hedding  per- 
ceived a  class-leader,  formerly  a  noted  boxer,  but  since 
powerfully  converted,  and  now  a  real  Christian,  for  a 
moment,  under  the  great  provocation,  so  far  forget- 
ting himself  as  to  slip  off  his  coat  and  prepare  for  a 
fight.    He  calmly  laid  his  hand  upon  him  and  said : 


78 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1800. 


"Brother,  put  on  your  coat.  It  won't  do  to  fight. 
You  are  a  Christian;  and  it  is  the  Sabbath-day." 
The  bully,  however,  showed  himself  too  cowardly  to 
stand  even  the  appearance  of  an  attack  upon  himself, 
and  slimk  away.  Soon  after  the  civil  authorities  took 
him  up  and  fined  him  on  five  several  indictments, 
viz. :  for  breaking  the  Sabbath,  breaking  the  peace, 
assault  and  battery,  cursing  the  king,  and  profane 
swearing. 

Distrust  of  himself  and  of  his  capabilities  was  a 
prominent  characteristic  of  Mr.  Hedding  in  his  early 
history,  as  well  as  in  his  subsequent  career.  He  thus 
speaks  of  the  embarrassment  he  felt  when  first  thrust 
out  into  the  work :  "  Thus  far  I  had  often  been  im- 
pressed with  a  belief  that  some  time  it  would  be  my 
duty  to  preach,  but  believed  that  the  time  had  not 
yet  arrived  for  me  to  commence  so  great  a  work.  I 
felt  great  reluctance  to  commence  travelling  as  an 
exhorter,  lest  it  should  seem  to  others  that  I  was  too 
forward,  and  lest,  on  account  of  my  youth  and  want  of 
knowledge,  I  should  hurt  instead  of  helping  the  cause 
of  Christ,  which  I  so  dearly  loved.  However,  the 
solicitude  of  some  of  the  preachers,  the  fewness  of  the 
labourers  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  my  strong  de- 
sire for  the  salvation  of  mankind,  led  me  to  consent 
to  the  request  of  my  brethren,  and  do  what  little  I 
could  in  warning  sinners  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come."  When  he  returned  home  from  his  engage- 
ment on  Essex  Circuit  he  seems  not  yet  to  have  been 
fully  satisfied  in  his  own  mind  as  to  the  line  of  duty.' 


1800.]    COMMENCES    HIS    ITINERANT   CAREER.  79 

He  had  never  preached ;  that  is,  he  had  not  yet  dis- 
coursed from  a  text,  though  he  had  undoubtedly  ex- 
pounded the  Scriptures  in  his  exhortations. 

His  mode  of  reasoning  within  himself  on  the  sub- 
ject of  his  call  to  the  ministry  was  thus  expressed : — • 
"  I  have  no  desire  to  be  a  preacher  unless  God  re- 
quire it.  K  he  require  it,  he  will  let  me  know  it. 
If  he  does  not  let  me  know  it,  he  will  never  blame 
me  for  not  preaching." 

In  this  perplexed  and  doubtful  state  of  mind  he 
continued  till  Saturday,  March  25,  1800.  On  that 
day,  as  he  was  engaged  in  his  daily  labour  and  think- 
ing of  an  appointment  he  had  as  an  exhorter,  on  the 
following  day,  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  preach 
at  that  meeting,  and  the  text  he  should  use,  and  the 
manner  in  which  he  should  preach,  were  so  clearly 
impressed  on  his  mind  that  he  dared  not  refuse.  He 
yielded  to  the  impression,  and  preached  with  such 
comfort  to  his  own  mind,  such  enlargement  of  soul, 
and  such  manifest  approval  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  that 
from  that  time  he  never  doubted  but  that  he  was 
called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.* 

From  this  time  forth  his  course  was  determined. 

The  author  of  the  "  Troy  Conference  Miscellany,"  Rev.  Stephen 
Parks,  says:  "A  humble  cottage  on  the  west  side  of  Cumberland 
Head,  about  two  miles  from  the  village  of  Plattsburgh,  has  been 
pointed  out  to  the  writer  as  the  place  where  this  distinguished  ser- 
vant of  God  preached  his  first  sermon."  We  incline  to  think  this 
was  his  first  "  exhortation  "  after  his  entrance  upon  his  labours  on 
Essex  Circuit,  in  1799,  and  not  his  first  sermon but  we  are  not 
certain. 


80  LIFE   AND    TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1800. 

The  scruples  whicli  so  strongly  marked  the  conscien- 
tiousness of  the  young  man  were  now  all  removed. 
He  was  soon  regularly  licensed  as  a  local  preacher — 
no  one  doubting  but  that  God  had  appointed  him  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry. 

Up  to  this  period  his  religious  experience  had  been 
of  a  very  clear  and  satisfactory  character.  He  had 
preserved,  from  the  time  when  first  the  Holy  Spirit 
bore  witness  with  his  that  he  was  born  of  God,  tlie 
clear  and  indubitable  evidence  of  his  acceptance  in 
the  Beloved ;  so  clear,  indeed,  that  it  had  not  been 
obscured  by  a  doubt  or  a  fear.  The  current  of  his 
religious  feeling  was  deep,  strong,  and  constant ;  like 
that  of  the  mighty  river,  unaffected  by  drenching  rains 
or  withering  droughts,  it  moved  onward,  with  steady 
flow,  to  the  great  ocean  where  all  his  thoughts  and 
feelings  centred.  But  after  his  course  for  the  minis- 
try had  been  fully  determined  upon,  and  he  had  re- 
solved to  brave  every  hardship  and  privation  that  he 
might  preach  Christ  and  him  crucified,  there  was  a 
perceptible  increase  of  his  peace  and  joy.  Amid  the 
hard  labour  incident  to  a  settlement  in  a  new  coun- 
try, his  joys  literally  abounded.  The  following  pas- 
sage will  give  us  a  glimpse  of  the  state  of  his 
mind : — 

"  During  the  summer  of  1800,"  says  he,  "  I  was  en- 
gaged in  some  work  a  mile  or  two  back  in  the  woods, 
and,  as  I  was  often  accustomed  to  do,  kneeled  down 
and  prayed.  My  soul  was  so  filled  with  the  love  of 
God,  and  I  became  so  exceedingly  happy, .  that  I 


1800.]    COMMENCES    HIS    ITINERANT    CAREEE.  81 

shouted  the  praise  of  God  to  the  height  of  my  voice. 
It  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  not  possibly  breathe 
unless  I  shouted.  For  half  an  hour  I  made  the  woods 
ring  with  my  loud  shouts  of  glory  to  God  in  the 
highest." 

Such  were  the  feelings  with  which  his  heart  over- 
flowed when  once  the  great  question  of  duty  had  been 
settled.  Scarcely  less  interesting  were  the  feelings 
with  which  he  contemplated  his  course  when  he 
viewed,  in  retrospect,  the  many  years  and  severe 
hardships  of  his  ministerial  career.  Said  he  :  "  Often 
the  flesh  has  complained,  my  spirit  has  simk  within 
me,  and,  amid  the  privations,  toils,  and  hardships  of  an 
itinerant  life,  worldly  interests  have  pleaded  for  some 
other  employment.  But  there  has  been  a  voice  sound- 
ing continually  in  my  soul, '  'Woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not 
the  gospel.'  .  And  however  poorly  I  have  performed 
the  work  for  these  many  years,  since  the  time  I  be- 
lieved that  God  had  called  me  to  preach,  it  has  been 
my  delight  to  declare  his  message  to  dying  men. 
And  had  I  my  life  to  live  over  again,  and  the  choice 
of  all  the  stations  which  earth  could  proffer,  I  would 
prefer  to  be  a  faithful,  acceptable,  and  useful  itinerant 
minister  of  the  gospel  of  the  blessed  God." 

Having  been  licensed  as  a  local  preacher,  he  con- 
tinued to  preach  in  his  own  and  in  neighbouring 
places  during  the  summer  of  1800.  This  position  he 
was  not  permitted  long  to  occupy,  for  in  the  ensuing 
fall  he  was  called  out  by  the  Eev.  Shadi-ach  Bostwick, 
who  had  succeeded  Sylvester  Hutchinson  as  presiding 


82 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


U800. 


elder  of  the  district,  to  labom*  upon  a  circuit.  On 
the  loth  of  November  he  commenced  his  itinerant 
career.  At  first  he  was  placed  upon  the  Plattsbnrgh 
Circuit,  on  the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain.  Here 
he  had  his  early  fi-iend  and  spiritual  guide,  Kev. 
Joseph  Mitchell,  as  his  colleague  and  superintendent. 
His  labom-s  on  this  circuit  were  blessed  to  the  awaken- 
ing  and  conversion  of  many  souls.  But  his  stay  was 
short;  for  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  the  exigences  of 
the  work  required  his  removal  to  Cambridge  Circuit, 
where  one  of  the  preachers  had  broken  down.  Here 
he  had  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Stevens  as  his  colleague. 
His  preaching  was  attended  with  some  measure  of 
success,  and  he  continued  to  labour  till  the  ensuing 
conference. 

To  the  wise  counsels,  the  kind  care,  and  holy  ex- 
ample of  his  presiding  elder,  the  young  itinerant  was 
greatly  indebted.  Shadrach  Bostwick  was,  in  every 
respect,  such  a  man  as  the  young  minister,  in  that 
early  day,  might  look  up  to  for  counsel,  and  whose 
example  he  might  safely  imitate.  He  was  one  of 
"  God's  noblemen," — a  prince  and  a  great  man  in  our 
Israel.  "  He  was  a  glorious  man,"  said  Bishop  Hed- 
ding.  He  had  been  educated  for  a  physician ;  and 
his  talents  were  of  a  commanding  order  that  would 
have  secured  him  eminence  in  any  department  of  life. 
As  a  preacher  he  stood  foremost  in  rank,  and  through 
all  the  extensive  regions  of  his  labours  he  was  famous 
for  the  intellectual  and  evangelical  power  of  his  ser- 
mons.   His  discourses  were  systematic,  profound, 


1800.]    COMMENCES    HIS    ITINERANT    CAREER.  83 

Imninous,  and  often  overwhelming;  liis  piety  was 
deep  and  pure ;  his  manners  were  dignified  and  amia- 
ble. Hundi'eds  will  rise  np  and  call  him  blessed  in 
the  final  day.  His  example  and  talents  could  not  but 
fire  the  hearts  and  stimulate  the  energies  of  hi&  young 
preachers.  He  had  entered  the  ti*avelling  ministry  in 
1791,  and  his  labours  extended  over  Delaware,  Mary- 
land, iS'ew-Jei'sey,  Xew-Tork,  Connecticut,  Massachu- 
setts, and  Ohio.  He  was  eminently  a  pioneer.  In 
1803  he  passed  to  the  TVestem  Reserve,  in  north- 
eastern Ohio,  then  a  remote  settlement  on  the  western 
frontier.  Here  he  formed  the  first  circuit;  it  ex- 
tended through  the  sparse  settlements,  and  required 
extraordinary  labours  and  sacrifices.  The  roads  he 
travelled  were  "Indian  trails,"  and  his  guide-posts 
were  marks  on  the  trees.  Indomitable  as  he  was  in 
energy  of  character,  he  was,  nevertheless,  often  foiled 
in  his  winter  travels  by  impassable  roads  and  swollen 
ton-ents,  over  which  there  were  no  bridges.  Amid 
such  privations  and  toils  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
Methodism  in  that  fine  region,  and  its  healthiness 
to  the  present  day  attests  the  skill  and  faithfulness  of 
the  early  workman.  In  1805  he  found  it  necessary 
to  desist  from  travelling  on  account  of  domestic  cir- 
cumstances. He  accordingly,  after  fourteen  years' 
service,  located  and  resumed  the  practice  of  medicine. 
Such  were  the  men  among  whom  yoimg  Hedding 
breathed  the  vital  air  of  Methodism,  and  such  the 
spirit  that  animated  them. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1801,  ^Lr.  Hedding  was 
4^ 


84:  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1801. 

admitted  by  the  Xew-Tork  Annual  Conference  on  pro- 
bation in  the  travelling  connexion.  Of  the  fifty-jvoe^ 
mostly  young  men,  who  that  year  entered  the  travel- 
ling ministry,  but  two  survived  him  in  that  relation, 
and  both  of  them  had  retired  from  effective  service. 
The  others,  or  most  of  them,  long  since  ceased  from 
their  labours  and  entered  upon  their  reward.  Indeed, 
it  is  a  striking  commentary  upon  the  privations  and 
labours  of  that  early  period,  that  twenty-nine  of  the 
fifty-five  retired  from  the  ministry  within  the  short 
period  of  ten  years.  It  is  painful  to  reflect  how  much 
talent  has  been  lost  to  the  Church,  at  every  period  of 
her  history,  in  consequence  of  the  severity  of  the 
labour  and  the  insufficiency  of  the  support. 

At  that  period  there  were  but  eight  annual  confer- 
ences, three  hundred  and  seven  preachei*s,  and  seventy 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four  mem- 
bers in  our  whole  American  connexion.  Tlie  circuits 
were  large,  often  requiring  from  three  to  five  hun- 
dred miles  to  complete  one  round,  and  this  round  was 
to  be  completed  in  from  two  to  six  weeks,  during 
which  a  sermon  was  to  be  preached  and  a  class  met 
daily ;  and  often  three  sermons  and  three  classes  to  be 
attended  on  the  Sabbath.  The  journeys,  too,  were 
performed,  not  upon  steamboats  and  railroads,  nor 
yet  in  good  carriages  and  by  easy  stages  upon  turn- 
pikes ;  but  on  horseback,  through  rough  and  miry 
ways,  and  through  wildernesses  where  no  road  as  yet 
had  been  cast  up.  Rivers  and  swamps  were  to  be 
forded.    I^'or  could  the  journey  be  delayed.    On,  on, 


1801.]    COMMENCES    HIS    ITINERANT   CAREER.  85 

must  the  itinerant  press  his  way,  through  the  drench- 
ing rains  of  summer,  the  chilling  sleet  of  spring  or 
autumn,  and  the  driving  blasts  or  piercing  cold  of 
winter ;  and  often  amid  perils,  weariness,  hunger,  and 
almost  nakedness,  carrying  the  bread  of  life  to  the 
lost  and  perishing.  And  then,  when  the  day  of  toil 
was  ended,  in  the  creviced  hut  of  the  frontier  settler 
the  weary  itinerant,  among  those  of  kindred  hearts 
and  sympathies,  found  a  cordial  though  humble  place 
of  repose.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  said  that 
he  had  often  lodged  in  log^houses  where  the  stars 
could  be  seen  through  the  roof  above  him,  and  that 
again  and  again,  when  he  awoke  in  the  morning, 
he  has  found  the  bed  on  which  he  slept  covered  with 
snow. 

But  this  was  not  all.  The  people,  though  willing, 
were  poor,  and  the  support  was  often  inadequate  to 
meet  the  necessities  of  even  a  single  man ;  but  woe  to 
the  man  and  the  family  that  were  dependent  for  a 
livelihood  upon  the  compensation  received  for  such 
labours  as  these.  And  yet  these  were  men — men 
sensible  to  suffering  and  want — men  of  tender  sympa- 
thies for  wives  and  children !  And,  alas !  many  of 
them  broke  down  in  the  work  and  went  early  to  their 
reward ;  others  were  compelled  to  retire  from  it ;  but 
here  and  there  one  of  iron  constitution  and  abiding 
faith  toiled  on,  till,  like  our  own  Hedding,  full  of  years 
and  of  faith,  he  has,  been  gathered  to  those  that  had 
gone  before.  Such  were  the  toils,  hardships,  and 
privations  endured  by  our  fathers  in  transforming  the 


86  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1801. 

waste  wilderness  into  a  delightful  Wnejard,  and  mak- 
ing it  as  the  garden  of  God. 

JSTor  was  the  presiding  eldership  any  sinecure  in 
those  early  days  any  more  than  now.  Tlie  district 
which  embraced  the  Essex  Circuit,  when  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  was  employed  upon  it,  was  of  gigantic  propor- 
tions. It  embraced  Xew-York  city,  the  whole  of 
Long  Island,  and  extended  northward,  embracing  the 
whole  territory  having  the  Connecticut  Kiver  on  the 
east  and  Hudson  Kiver  and  Lake  Cliamplain  on  the 
west,  and  stretching  far  into  Canada.  In  fact,  it 
embraced  nearly  the  whole  territory  now  included 
within  three  annual  conferences..  This  immense  dis- 
trict was  then  travelled  by  Sylvester  Hutchinson. 
He  was  a  man  of  burning  zeal  and  of  indomitable 
energy.  Mounted  upon  his  favourite  horse,  he  would 
ride  through  the  entire  extent  of  his  district  once  each 
three  months,  visiting  each  circuit,  and  invariably 
tilling  all  his  numerous  appointments.  His  voice 
rung  like  a  trumpet's  blast ;  and  with  words  of  fire, 
and  in  powerful  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  he 
preached  Christ  Jesus. 

Int©  the  fellowship  of  this  noble  company  we  have 
seen  the  subject  of  our  memoir  duly  installed.  The 
conference  held  its  session  in  the  old  John-street 
Church,  and  Bishop  Whatcoat  presided  over  the 
deliberations  of  the  body.  It  was  a  time  of  great 
interest  to  the  young  preacher.  JTever  before  had  he 
seen  so  large  a  body  of  ministers  gathered  together. 
Many  of  them  were  already  renowned  for  their  talents 


1801.]    COMMENCES    HIS    ITINERANT    CAREER.  87 

and  labours.  There  was  Freeborn  Gari'ettson,  who 
was  regarded  as  the  apostle  of  Methodism  within  the 
bounds  of  the  conference  ;  a  true  Christian  gentle- 
man, a  man  of  great  influence  in  the  connexion,  and 
one  whose  life  and  labours  are  permanently  inter- 
woven with  the  early  history  of  the  Church.  There 
was  Daniel  Ostrander, — a  man  of  clear  head  and  un- 
bending integrity,  a  skilful  debater,  a  logical  ser- 
monizer,  an  able  preacher,  and  a  godly  man.  There, 
too,  was  Thomas  Morrell — formerly  an  ofl&cer  in  the 
revolutionary  army,  but  now  still  more  successful  in 
leading  the  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect  on  to  victory 
and  heaven ;  a  man  of  great  talents  and  learning,  and 
also  of  burning  zeal  in  the  cause  of  God.  There  also 
was  John  M'Claskey,  a  bold,  brave,  heroic  man  ; 
wherever  he  went  overwhelming  power  attended  his 
proclamation  of  the  truth.  In  that  conference  was 
Michael  Coate, — remarkably  prepossessing  in  his 
personal  appearance,  refined  and  attractive  in  his 
manners,  easy  and  simple  in  his  address,  and  justly 
ranked  among  the  very  best  and  most  successful 
preachers  of  the  day.  Beginning  to  exliort  the  very 
night  that  God  brought  deliverance  to  his  captive 
soul,  in  1794,  he  continued  through  twenty  years  of 
incessant  travels  and  labours  sounding  abroad  the 
word  of  life,  spreading  his  labours  over  vast  regions, 
and  founding  societies  and  churches  almost  without 
number.  There,  too,  was  the  eccentric  Billy  Hib- 
bard, — a  great  wit,  a  man  of  shrewd  parts,  and  also 
of  great  good  sense ;  the  inveterate  and  wily  foe  of 


88  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1801. 

Calvinism,  but  a  devoted  and  -useful  servant  of  Christ. 
There  too  was  John  Wilson,  a  thorough  scholar,  and 
who  often  manifested  extraordinary  energy,  and  was 
attended  with  peculiar  unction  in  his  pulpit  exercises. 
Among  that  galaxy,  too,  was  Samuel  Merwin,  whose 
transcendent  eloquence  for  a  long  period  chained  the 
most  crowded  audiences  in  Philadelphia,  Boston,  and 
Isew-York.  Many  others  also  were  there,  scarcely 
inferior  either  in  talents  or  success :  such  men  were 
Aaron  Hunt,  and  William  Thatcher,  and  Mitchell, 
and  Bostwick,  and  Brodhead,  and  Moriarty,  and 
Chichester, — men  known  and  honoured  in  the  Church 
of  God.  Such  were  the  men  among  whom  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  was  now  introduced,  and  with  whom  he  was  to 
become  a  co-worker  in  spreading  the  knowledge  of 
Christ.  To  be  with  them,  and  not  be  inspired  by 
the  same  spirit  that  animated  them,  would  have 
been  a  sure  evidence  of  a  want  of  appreciation  of 
the  nature  of  the  work,  and  an  unfitness  for  it.  But 
to  stand  up  as  an  equal  among  them,  nay,  to  become 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  them,  required  an 
intellect  and  attainments  of  no  ordinaiy  grade. 

At  the  close  of  this  session  of  the  conference,  Mr. 
Hedding  received  his  first  appointment  from  con- 
ference, which  was  to  the  Plattsburgh  Circuit.  Here 
he  had  the  Rev.  Elijah  Chichester  for  his  senior 
preacher,  a  man  eminently  adapted  to  give  to  the 
young  preacher  judicious  counsels,  and  to  influence 
him  by  the  purest  and  best  example.  The  circuit 
lay  upon  the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  extending 


1801.]    COMMENCES   HIS    ITINERANT   CAKEEE.  89 

from  Ticonderoga  on  the  south  nearly  to  St.  John's, 
in  Canada,  and  from  the  shores  of  the  lake  to  the  wil- 
derness and  mountains  of  the  west.  Here,  in  this 
new  and  sparsely-settled  country,  he  endured  more 
than  it  is  possible  for  us  to  describe  of  the  toils  and 
privations  of  the  early  itinerants.  They  had  to  travel 
over  new  and  miry  roads,  and  often  their  way  to  the 
remote  settlements  lay  through  unbroken  and  almost 
pathless  forests.  They  had  to  face  the  piercing  blasts 
of  the  cold  winter,  and  to  ford  streams  swollen  by 
freshets  and  chilled  by  melting  snows.  They  were 
often  compelled  to  lodge  in  log-houses,  whose  cre^dced 
walls  and  roofs  scarcely  protected  them  from  the 
driving  winds,  falling  rain,  or  snow.  A  complete 
journey  round  the  circuit  was  perforaied  in  each 
month.  This  required  a  travel  of  three  hundred 
miles,  and  they  were  accustomed  to  preach  at  least 
once  on  each  week-day,  and  three  times  on  the  Sab- 
bath, besides  meeting  classes  and  attending  prayer 
meetings. 

At  first,  the  prospects  on  the  circuit  were  exceed- 
ingly discouraging.  "For  a  season,"  said  he,  "we 
had  hard  times,  as  it  respects  rehgious  things,  and 
but  little  success  seemed  to  attend  our  labours. 
Many  of  the  members  had  backslidden,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  expel  some  of  them  from  the  Church, 
so  that  everything  wore  a  most  discouraging  aspect. 
Still  we  continued  our  labours  with  unabated  zeal, 
and  in  the  midst  of  our  gloom  confidently  looked 
for  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit.    In  this  we  were 


90 


LIFE    AND    TIMEb    OF  HEDDIIsG. 


[1801. 


not  disappointed.  The  great  Head  of  the  Church 
encouraged  us,  by  giving  us  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  a  plentiful  harvest.  Eevivals  occui-red  at 
almost  everv  appointment  on  the  circuit ;  and  many 
that  were  converted  that  year  persevered  for  years, 
and  at  length  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith." 

Of  his  colleague  during  this  year  Mr.  Hedding 
says:  "Though  he  was  a  man  of  moderate  learning, 
he  had  a  deep  undei*standing  and  a  sharp  and  pene- 
trating mind.  "What  little  he  had  time  to  read,  he 
read  and  digested  to  the  best  advantage.  He  was  a 
man  of  strict,  upright  moral  life  and  convei*sation, 
of  deep  religious  experience,  was  much  in  prayer, 
and  delighted  in  heavenly  meditations.  He  was  a 
preacher  of  great  industry,  and  faithful  in  every  part 
of  his  duty.  He  was  not  what  would  be  called  a 
polished  or  popular  preacher,  but  he  was  a  good 
sermonizer,  and  preached  and  exhorted  with  great 
energy  and  success;  for  the  Holy  Ghost  accompanied 
his  word,  and  set  it  home  on  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
When  we  met,  which  was  only  occasionally,  on  the 
circuit,  he  manifested  great  kindness  to  me,  gave 
me  good  counsel,  and  assisted  me,  as  far  as  he  was 
able  to  do,  in  my  studies." 

The  difficulties  and  embarrassments  in  the  way  of 
study,  at  this  early  day,  were  very  great  to  a  Method- 
ist preacher.  His  almost  daily  public  labom-s,  the 
long  and  often  toilsome  rides  between  his  appoint- 
ments, the  great  scarcity  and  high  price  of  books, 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  suitable  accommodations 


1801.]    COMMENCES    HIS    ITINERANT    CAREER.  91 

for  study,  and  the  almost  utter  impossibility  of  obtain- 
ing any  adequate  belp  by  way  of  instruction,  were 
some  of  the  difficulties  that  were  to  be  encountered 
and  overcome  by  him  who  would  show  himself  to  be 
a  workman  that  needed  not  to  be  ashamed.  With 
these  difficulties  Mr.  Hedding  resolutely  grappled. 
The  woods  were  often  his  study ;  the  Bible,  and  "  that 
elder  scripture,"  also  written  with  God's  own  hand, 
were  the  great  text-books  from  which  he  drew  forth 
the  treasures  of  knowledge  and  truth.  "  I  was  glad," 
says  he,  "  during  the  summer,  to  get  into  the  woods, 
and  find  an  hour  or  two  to  read  my  Bible  and  some 
other  religious  books  that  I  could  carry  in  my  saddle- 
bags. In  the  winter,  I  was  equally  glad  to  get  the 
same  privilege  by  the  fireside  in  a  small  log-cabin  of 
but  one  room,  and  the  fire  surrounded  by  a  family  of 
children." 

The  peculiar  cast  of  Mr.  Hedding's  mind,  and  the 
thoroughness  with  which  he  prosecuted  his  studies, 
even  under  his  numerous  disadvantages,  may  be  illus- 
trated by  the  following  incident,  which  he  himself 
related :  "  During  that  year  I  read  Bishop  Watson's 
Apology  for  the  Bible.  In  his  answers  to  Paine,  I 
came  to  a  place  where  Paine  objects  to  a  supposed 
contradiction  in  the  Bible,  namely,  that  Matthew  says, 
chapter  i,  verse  16, '  Jacob  begat  Joseph  the  husband 
of  Mary,'  while  Luke  says,  chapter  iii,  verse  23,  'Jo- 
seph was  the  son  of  Heli.'  This  Paine  claimed  to  be 
an  irreconcilable  contradiction.  On  coming  to  the 
place  in  Watson,  I  found  he  did  not  know  how  to 


92  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  L1801. 

answer  it,  but  slipped  over  it  without  giving  a  satis- 
factory solution.  And  not  knowing  how  to  answer 
it  myself,  I  was  troubled  in  spirit  for  several  weeks. 
But,  on  coming  to  a  friend's  house  in  Ticonderoga, 
I  found  a  copy  of  Mr.  "Wesley's  J^otes  on  the  New 
Testament.  I  flew  to  the  passage  for  an  explanation 
of  the  difiiculty ;  and  here  I  found  that  Joseph  was 
the  son-in-law  of  Heli.  I  then  perceived  that  Heli 
was  Mary's  father,  and  Jacob  was  Joseph's,  and  at 
once  the  difficulty  vanished  from  my  mind,  and  my 
spirit  rejoiced."  To  remove  any  additional  difficulty 
that  may  spring  up  in  the  mind  of  the  reader  in 
relation  to  calling  Joseph,  who  was  only  the  son-in- 
law,  "  the  son  of  Heli,"  we  have  only  to  observe  the 
fact  that  the  Jews  nev^er  permitted  women  to  enter 
into  their  genealogical  tables;  and  also  that  when- 
ever a  family-line  happened  to  end  with  a  daughter, 
instead  of  naming  her  in  the  genealogy,  they  inserted 
the  name  of  her  husband  as  the  son  of  him  who  was, 
in  reality,  only  his  father-in-law:^  Joseph  was  con- 
sidered, then,  according  to  law,  or,  at  least,  allowed 
custom,  to  be  the  son  of  Heli.  Therefore,  in  tracing 
the  genealogy  of  Jesus  through  his  maternal  line, 
Luke  pursued  only  the  custom  of  the  Jews  when  he 
called  Joseph  the  son  of  Heli.  Indeed,  a  second  in- 
stance to  the  same  effect  occurs  in  Luke's  genealogy, 
when,  in  verse  twenty-seven,  he  calls  Salathiel  "  the 
son  of  J^eri,"  when  he  was  actually  the  son  of  Jecho- 
nias,  and  only  the  sonAiv-law  of  l^eri. 

See  Adam  Clarke,  in  loco. 


1801,]   COMMENCES   HIS    ITINERANT   CAREER.  93 

It  was  thus,  step  hj  step,  tliat  young  Hedding 
plodded  Ms  way  along,  using  his  little  leisure  and 
his  few  books  to  the  best  possible  advantage.  When- 
ever he  encountered  a  difficulty,  he  ceased  not  to 
grapple  with  it  till  it  was  fully  overcome;  nor  did 
he  lay  down  a  book  until  its  contents  had  been  thor- 
oughly mastered,  and,  it  will  be  scarcely  too  much  to 
say,  permanently  stored  away  in  his  own  mind. 

He  was  not  less  ardent  in  his  labours  than  in  his 
studies.  No  man  could  surpass  him  in  the  amount 
of  his  labour,  nor  yet  in  the  ardency  with  which  it 
was  performed.  ISTot  only  was  he  ready  to  "  enter 
every  open  door,"  but  he  was  ready  also  to  "  lift  the 
latch"  in  new  places,  to  see  if  God  would  not  open  the 
door  for  the  proclamation  of  the  gospel  to  the  poor 
and  needy.  Thus  was  he  busily  engaged  in  not  only 
gathering  into  classes,  and  seeking  to  preserve  those 
already  converted,  but  constantly  endeavouring  to 
push  on  to  "  regions  beyond." 

The  colleague  of  Mr.  Hedding,  going  from  one  of 
his  appointments  to  another,  passed  through  a  neigh- 
bourhood where  they  had  not  been  accustomed  to 
preach,  and  where,  in  fact,  up  to  this  time,  there  had 
been  no  preaching  from  any  denomination.  In  the 
true  spirit  of  his  evangelical  mission,  he  felt  a  desire 
to  do  something  for  the  people.  His  mind  was  power- 
fully impressed  with  the  conviction  that  God  had  a 
work  for  them  to  do  there ;  but  he  knew  no  one  in 
the  place.  He  had  just  passed  a  house,  when  his 
mind  was  impressed  to  go  back  and  inquire  if  they 


94  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1801. 

would  allow  preaching  there.  He  returned,  obtained 
the  ready  consent  of  the  occupants,  and  left  an  ap- 
pointment for  Mr.  Hedding  in  two  weeks,  his  own 
appointments  calling  him  to  a  distant  part  of  the 
circuit.  True  to  the  time,  the  young  itinerant  hero 
appeared  upon  the  new  field  of  battle.  It  was  a  hot 
contest.  The  people  were  deeply  afiected.  The  work 
of  the  Lord  broke  out  at  the  very  first  meeting;  it 
swept  with  almost  resistless  power  through  the  entire 
neighbourhood,  and  nearly  all  the  inhabitants  were 
converted  to  God.  The  whole  place  seemed  to  un- 
dergo an  entire  moral  renovation.  A  society  was 
organized,  classes  were  formed,  and  regular  preach- 
ing established.  A  good  society  still  exists  there; 
and  for  more  than  half  a  century  the  word  of  God 
has  been  preached  in  their  midst. 

Another  incident,  connected  \vith  the  preceding, 
shows  not  only  the  pioneer  character  of  the  ministry, 
but  also  of  the  membership  in  those  days.  A 
young  man,  from  a  place  several  miles  distant,  was 
teaching  the  neighbourhood  school  at  the  time  of  this 
revival,  and  became  one  of  its  most  clear  and  hopeful 
subjects.  Soon  after,  he  returned  to  his  father's 
house,  and  reported  what  great  things  the  Lord  had 
done  for  him  and  for  the  people  where  he  had  been. 
He  obtained  his  father's  consent,  and  then  invited 
the  circuit  preachers  to  visit  and  preach  in  that 
place  also.  Here  too  there  had  been  no  preaching 
of  any  kind  up  to  that  time.  The  preachers,  utterly 
regardless  of  the  weight  it  added  to  their  already 


1802.]    COMMENCES   HIS    ITINERANT    CAREER.  05 

heavy  burden,  responded  to  the  call  and  went.  The 
father,  mother,  brothers,  sisters,  and  many  of  the 
neighbours  -of  the  young  man  were  soon  rejoicing 
in  the  pardoning  mercy  of  God,  and  one  of  the  best 
societies  in  all  that  part  of  the  country  was  speedily 
organized. 

Such  were  the  agencies  by  which  the  work  of  God 
multiplied  and  spread  abroad  at  that  early  period. 
In  the  midst  of  such  glorious  labours  and  victories, 
with  the  work  of  God  spreading  out  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  new  openings  for  the  ministry  of  the  w^ord 
revealing  themselves  in  every  quarter,  young  Hed- 
ding  closed  the  first  year  of  his  regular  itinerant  min- 
istry, by  the  approaching  session  of  the  conference 
for  1802. 


96 


LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


LI 802. 


CHAPTER  ni. 

LABOURS  ON  FLETCHER,  BRIDGEWATER,  AND  HANOYER 
CIRCUITS. 

Does  not  attend  the  Conference  of  1802  —  Appointed  to  Fletcher  Circuit  — 
Laban  Clark's  Description  of  it  —  Henry  Ryan — Labours  and  Sufferings 
— Mode  of  crossing  Rivers  —  Horse  gives  out — Walks  half  round  Lis  Cir- 
cuit—  Personal  and  Ministerial  Characteristics  —  Application  to  Studies 

—  Stackhouse's  History  of  the  Bible — His  Colleague  —  Religious  Con- 
dition of  the  People  —  St.  Albans  —  Disciples  of  Thomas  Paine  —  Perse- 
cutions—  Two  Young  Women  whipped  —  A  Novel  Scene  —  Infant  Dam- 
nation —  Anecdotes  of  Early  Methodism  —  Ashgrove  Conference  in  1803 

—  Ashgrove  Society  —  Conference  Services — Ordained  Deacon  —  Ap- 
pointed to  Bridgewater — Extent  of  the  Circuit  —  Promising  Indications 

—  Dangerously  Sick  —  Effects  on  the  Work  —  Given  over  to  die  —  Re- 
vives —  Attempts  to  resume  his  Work  —  Terrible  Attack  of  Rheumatism  — 
Spiritual  Conflicts  —  Prospect  of  being  a  Cripple  —  Thrice  tried  —  A  Bright 
Example  of  Christian  Charity — Resumes  his  Labours — Visits  Saratoga 

—  Incident  on  board  a  Sloop  —  Conference  in  1804  —  Note  to  Bishop. 
Asbury  —  Anecdote  of  Asbury  —  Hanover  Circuit  —  Itinerancy  of  Single 
Men  —  Privileges  of  Study  —  Revolves  his  Plan  —  Studies  English  Gram- 
mar —  Mode  —  Dictionary  of  the  Language — Effects  —  Subsequent  Stud- 
ies —  Successes  of  the  Year. 

"We  were  a  little  before  our  story  in  saying  in  our  last 
chapter  that  Mr.  Hedding  closed  his  first  year's  itin- 
erant labour  by  the  wpproaching'^'^  session  of  the  con- 
ference ;  for,  in  fact,  he  did  not  attend  that  session  of 
the  conference  at  all.  It  was  not  then  as  requisite  for 
the  young  probationer  in  the  conference  to  attend  its 
sessions  as  it  has  now  become  since  the  introduction 
of  a  literary  and  theological  course,  attended  with  sys- 
tematic examinations.  Young  Hedding,  therefore,  in 
view  of  the  exigences  of  the  circuit,  chose  to  remain 


1802.]     APPOINTED    TO   FLETCHER   CIECriT.  97 

at  home  and  prosecute  the  work  progressing  under 
such  glorious  auspices. 

The  session  of  the  conference  was  held  in  the  city 
of  ]Si  ew-York,  and  commenced  June  1,  1802.  After 
its  close,  and  while  yet  performing  his  rounds  on  the 
circuit  as  he  had  done  during  the  year,  Mr.  Hedding 
was  notified  of  his  appointment  to  the  Fletcher  Cir- 
cuit. This  was  the  same  circuit  he  had  travelled  as 
an  exhorter  in  1799,  its  name  having  been  changed 
the  preceding  year  from  Essex  to  Fletcher.  We 
have  already  given  an  outline  of  it  as  it  was  in 
1799.  The  Eev.  Laban  Clark,  in  connexion  with 
James  Coleman,  had  been  appointed  to  it  in  1801,  and 
he  thus  describes  its  form,  extent,  and  the  labours  it 
involved.  "Our  circuit,"  says  he,  "was  divided  into 
two  parts,  nearly  like  a  figure  8,  containing  two  weeks' 
appointments  in  each,  and  bringing  us  together  every 
two  weeks;  the  whole  distance  about  four  himdred 
miles,  including  all  that  part  of  Yei-mont  north  of 
Onion  Kiver,  and  in  Lower  Canada  from  Sutton  to 
Missisque  Bay,  and  around  the  bay  to  Alsbury  and  Isle 
la  Motte;  embracing  about  forty  appointments  for  four 
weeks."*  Being  a  newly-settled  country  the  roads 
were  exceedingly  bad,  and  to  reach  some  portions 
of  the  circuit  they  were  compelled  to  traverse  exten- 
sive wildernesses,  through  which  there  were  no  roads. 

Mr.  Hedding  had  for  his  co-labourer  and  his  senior 
in  office  this  year  the  Rev.  Henry  Byan.  Of  this 
colleague  Mr  Hedding  says :  "He  was,  in  that  day,  a 

•  See  Memorials  of  Methodism,  Second  Series,  p.  146. 


98  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1802. 

very  pious  man,  a  man  of  great  love  for  the  cause  of 
Cliristj  and  of  great  zeal  in  his  work  as  a  minister. 
He  was  a  brave  Ii*ishman — a  man  who  laboured  as  if 
the  judgment  thunders  were  to  follow  on  each  ser- 
mon. He  was  sometimes  a  little  overbearing  in  the 
administration  of  discipline ;  but  with  that  exception, 
he  performed  his  duties  in  every  part  of  his  work  as 
a  minister  of  Christ  as  faithfully  as  any  man  I  ever 
knew.  He  was  very  brotherly  and  kind  to  me — 
often  speaking  to  me  in  a  manner  calculated  to  urge 
me  on  to  diligence  and  fidelity  in  the  great  work. 
When  we  met  at  the  place  of  intersection  in  the 
route  of  the  circuit,  he  would  occasionally  salute  me 
with  his  favourite  exhortation :  "  Drive  on,  brother ! 
drive  on!  Drive  the  devil  out  of  the  country! 
Drive  him  into  the  lake  and  drown  him ! "  The 
author  of  the  "  Memorials  of  Methodism  "  says  of  this 
remarkable  man  :  "  He  was  characterized  by  an  inex- 
tinguishable zeal  and  unfaltering  energy.  ISTo  diffi- 
culty could  obstruct  his  course  ;  he  drove  over  his  vast 
circuits,  and  still  larger  districts,  preaching  continu- 
ally, and  pressing  on  from  one  appointment  to 
another.  I^either  the  comforts  nor  the  courtesies  of 
life  ever  delayed  him.  In  Canada  his  labours  were 
Herculean ;  he  achieved  the  work  of  half  a  score  of 
men,  and  was  instrumental  in  scattering  the  word  of 
life  over  vast  portions  of  that  new  country,  when  few 
other  clergymen  dared  to  venture  among  its  wilder- 
nesses and  privations.  IS'ot  only  did  he  labour  gigan- 
tically, but  he  also  suffered  heroically  from  want,  fa- 


1802.]  LABOURS    AND  SUFFERINGS. 


99 


tigue,  bad  roads,  and  the  rigorous  winters  of  those  high 
latitudes."  Such  was  the  companion  with  whom  Mr. 
Hedding  was  to  be  associated  in  the  labours  and  pri- 
vations of  the  second  year  of  his  ministry.  He  had 
but  little  suavity  of  manner  to  render  himself  agreea- 
ble to  a  colleague  ;  but  there  was  a  heroism  in  his 
daring,  and  an  invincible  ardour  in  his  movements 
that  rendered  him  not  altogether  unprofitable  as  an 
associate. 

They  often  suffered  severely  both  from  wet  and 
cold  in  their  journeys.  Sometimes,  during  the  wet 
seasons,  they  slept  in  log-huts  so  open  and  exposed 
that  there  was  not  a  dry  spot  in  them  large  enough 
for  a  bed.  Mr.  Hedding  relates  that  on  one  occasion 
he  occupied  the  same  bed  with  his  colleague  on  a  cold 
winter  night  in  Canada.  When  they  awoke  in  the 
morning,  they  found,  to  their  great  surprise,  that  the 
feet  of  his  colleague  had  been  frozen  while  they  were 
asleep.  But  this  did  not  deter  him  a  moment  from 
his  work.  One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  they  encoun- 
tered in  travelling  round  the  circuit  was  the  difficulty 
of  crossing  the  rivers.  These  rivers  were  generally 
without  bridges,  and  often  they  were  compelled  to 
cross  them  when  the  waters  were  high  and  the  cur- 
rent swift,  thus  exposing  themselves  to  great  peril. 
Sometimes  they  were  ferried  over  in  a  canoe,  holding 
their  horses  by  the  bridle  while  they  swam ;  at  other 
times  they  were  compelled  first  to  drive  their  horses 
over,  and  then  to  get  over  as  they  could  on  floating 

logs  or  fallen  trees.    On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Hedding 

5 


100  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  1.1802. 

rode  his  horse  while  he  swam  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  a  distance  of  thirty  or  forty  rods. 
But  out  of  all  their  dangers  the  Lord  delivered 
them. 

Another  incident  in  the  labours  of  this  year,  which 
belongs  to  this  connexion,  is  worthy  of  record;  for 
while  it  finely  illustrates  the  remarkable  energy  and 
perseverance  of  Mr.  Hedding  in  prosecuting  his 
labours,  it  also  gives  striking  evidence  of  his  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  Christ.  At  one  time  the  travelling 
was  unusually  bad  even  for  that  country.  There 
had  been  alternate  rains  and  frosts.  The  roads  were 
exceedingly  rough,  and  frozen  hard ;  all  the  pools  of 
standing  water  were  frozen  over,  but  the  weight 
of  the  horse  would  cause  him  to  break  through  at 
almost  every  step,  and  he  soon  became  so  lame  that 
it  was  impossible  for  him  to  proceed  further.  How 
should  his  appointments  be  reached  ?  Ko  one  would 
risk  a  horse  in  such  perilous  travelling.  When  every 
other  resort  failed,  the  young  itinerant,  who  had  now 
reached  the  centre  of  his  circuit,  shouldered  his  sad- 
dle-bags, left  his  horse  behind,  and  sallied  forth  to  per- 
form the  round  upon  the  northern  part  of  the  circuit 
on  foot.  In  two  weeks  he  actually  travelled  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles.  Of  this  journey  he  said, — 
"Frequently  I  would  break  through  the  ice  and  the 
frozen  mud  in  the  swamps  and  woods,  tearing  my 
boots  and  keeping  my  feet  wet  most  of  the  time ; 
but  I  persevered,  and  got  round  to  my  appointments 
at  the  usual  time,  preaching  once  or  twice  a  day  with 


1802.]  PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.  101 


my  other  accustomed  services.  I  lived  through  it,  but 
the  exposures  and  hardships  of  that  tour  I  have  never 
recovered  from  to  this  day." 

Some  of  the  personal  characteristics  of  Mr.  Hed- 
ding,  at  this  period,  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  our 
readers.  Eaised  amid  the  exposures  and  labours, 
and  trained  to  all  the  hardy  habits,  of  a  new  country, 
he  possessed  unusual  physical  vigour  and  hardihood. 
In  physical  strength  and  in  power  of  endurance  he 
was  excelled  by  few,  if  any,  of  the  young  men  of  his 
time.  Having  enjoyed  uniform  health  from  his  child- 
hood, his  constitution,  naturally  sound,  was  unim- 
paired. He  was,  in  height,  about  six  feet,  of  a  large 
frame,  erect  and  commanding  in  person.  His  voice, 
though  by  no  means  unmusical,  was  unusually  sono- 
rous ;  indeed,  such  was  its  volume  and  power,  that, 
when  speaking  in  the  open  air,  he  has  often  been 
heard  at  the  distance  of  a  mile.  He  spoke  however 
with  great  ease,  and  with  but  little  physical  exhaus- 
tion. He  was  also  an  excellent  singer,  and  generally 
led  the  singing  in  his  congregations.  His  counte- 
nance bore  striking  evidence  of  decision  and  energy 
blended  with  meekness  and  benevolence ;  and,  at 
the  same  time,  his  high,  expansive  forehead,  penetra- 
ting eye,  and  intelligent  expression,  gave  evidence  of 
a  high  order  of  intellect.  Even  at  that  early  day  he 
was  looked  upon  as  a  man  of  no  ordinary  character. 
His  preaching  was  plain  and  practical.  It  exhibited 
no  oratorical  display — no  transcendent  flights  of  fancy 
— ^no  succession  of  beautiful  or  startling  ideas ;  but 


102  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1802. 

Ids  sermons  were  well  studied,  and  exhibited  a  rare 
and  symmetrical  combination  of  well-digested  ideas. 
They  were  delivered  with  unction,  which  is,  after  all, 
the  sonl  of  eloquence,  and  with  power.  Upon  con- 
troversial subjects  his  fine  logical  powei*s  were  often 
exercised  to  good  purpose :  the  prevailing  errors  of 
the  day — Calvinism,  Universalism,  and  Infidelity — 
were  often  made  to  writhe  under  the  invincible  re- 
sults of  his  reasoning. 

Though  abundant  in  labours,  he  did  not  forget  or 
neglect  his  studies,  but  was  a  most  dihgent  student. 
During  this  yearM'Ewen  on  the  Types  of  Scripture 
was  studied  by  him ;  and,  at  first,  he  was  inclined  to 
follow  the  example  of  some  of  the  popular  preachers 
of  the  day,  in  adopting  his  methods  of  illustration; 
but  in  after  years  he  relinquished  the  practice.  His 
great  study,  however,  during  the  year,  besides  the 
Bible,  which  was  always  first,  was  Stackhouse's  His- 
tory of  the  Bible,  comprising  several  octavo  volumes. 
He  found  the  work  in  the  house  of  a  friend,  borrowed 
it,  and  carried  it,  volume  after  volume,  in  his  saddle- 
bags, around  the  circuit.  Every  favourable  moment 
for  study  was  seized  upon  with  an  avidity  that  evidenced 
his  thirst  for  knowledge.  This  work  proved  to  be 
of  great  service  to  him,  and  added  largely  to  his  stock 
of  Biblical  knowledge.  So  thoroughly  was  it  studied 
that  he  ever  after  retained  a  critical  and  ready  knowl- 
edge of  not  only  the  positions  taken  upon  the  promi- 
nent points  discussed,  but  also  the  data  and  the  argu- 
ments by  which  those  positions  were  sought  to  be 


1802.] 


SAINT  ALBANS. 


103 


sustained.  The  young  theologian  was,  by  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  training  himself  manfully  for  his  great 
work. 

Mr.  Hedding  found  his  colleague  as  noble-hearted 
as  he  was  brave;  and  they  laboured  together  in 
great  harmony.  Indeed,  they  nobly  vied  with  each 
other  to  excel  in  the  abundance  and  efficiency  of 
their  labours  Perhaps  Mr.  Kyan  never  had  a  col- 
league that  it  was  more  difficult  to  lead  in  these 
respects.  Several  very  extensive  and  powerful  re- 
vivals took  place  upon  the  circuit,  and  many  precious 
souls  were  gathered  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

The  religious  condition  of  the  people,  for  the  most 
part,  was  truly  deplorable.  Within  the  ample  range 
of  the  circuit  there  was  only  one  Congregational  minis- 
ter settled  over  a  small  society ;  and  but  two  Baptist 
ministers,  whose  range  of  labour  was  also  more  or 
less  restricted.  The  result  of  this  destitution  was  not 
only  great  spiritual  ignorance,  but  great  moral  degra- 
dation, and  great  insensibility  to  religious  truth. 
Every  form  of  pernicious  error  would  spring  up  spon- 
taneously in  such  a  soil.  The  infidel  works  of  Thomas 
Paine  were  just  then  taking  the  world  by  storm. 
They  were  circulated  and  read,  and  multitudes  pro- 
fessed to  believe  their  calumnies  against  God  and  the 
Bible.  Mr.  Hedding  says:  "When  I  first  went  to 
St.  Albans,  which  was  then  included  in  this  circuit, 
in  1799,  though  it  was  a  considerable  village,  I 
could  find  but  two  individuals  who  professed  experi- 
mental Christianity  in  the  whole  village.    A  large 


104  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1802. 

number  of  the  inhabitants — ^botb  men  and  women, 
young  and  old — unblushinglj  professed  to  be  the  dis- 
ciples of  Paine.  Many  of  them  violently  opposed 
Christianity.  They  would  blackguard  the  preachers 
in  the  streets,  and  insult  them  even  in  their  religious 
meetings.  On  one  occasion  a  lawyer  struck  Elijah 
Sabin  with  the  but  of  his  whip,  and  knocked  him 
down.  At  another  time,  another  wrung  the  nose  of 
Lorenzo  Dow.  'No  general  revival  had  taken  place 
at  St.  Albans  previous  to  this  year ;  but  during  the 
year  we  had  a  great  revival.  Infidelity  was  com- 
pelled to  flee ;  and  many  of  the  disciples  of  Paine 
renounced  their  infidelity,  and  became  the  disciples 
of  Christ."  The  seed  that  had  been  sown  amid  per- 
secutions and  privations  then  only  began  to  take  root. 
From  that  time  forward  the  harvest  has  been  growing 
more  and  still  more  abundant,  Not  only  St.  Albans, 
but  all  the  region  round  about,  has  witnessed  revival 
after  revival,  and  many  a  glorious  harvest  has  glad- 
dened the  heritage  of  God.  The  place  where  once 
only  two  persons  professing  godliness  could  be  found, 
now  holds  a  respectable  position  for  its  religious  and 
benevolent  institutions,  while  infidelity  is  scarcely 
known. 

These  faithful  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  at  this 
period,  were  not  alone  in  sufi'ering  persecution. 
The  faith  of  their  young  converts  was  often-  most 
severely  tested  in  the  fiery  ordeal.  The  wives  of 
ungodly  men  and  the  children  of  ungodly  parents 
often  suffered  the  most  bitter  and  unrelenting  cruelty 


1802.]  PEK8ECUTI0N   OF   CONVERTS.  105 


from  those  who  should  have  been  foremost  to  aid  and 
encourage  them.  "  Some  of  the  young  people  who 
experienced  religion  were  turned  out  of  doors  by  their 
parents ;  some  of  them  were  whipped  cruelly.  Two 
yomig  women  were  so  whipped  hy  their  father  that  the 
Mood  ran  down  to  their  feet  /  and  he  then  turned 
them  out  of  doors^  a/nd  they  walked  fifteen  rmles  to  a 
Methodist  society.  That  same  father,  eight  of  whose 
children  experienced  religion,  drove  six  of  them  from 
their  home,  and  continued  cruelly  to  whip  two  younger 
boys  for  the  crime  of  loving  and  praising  God  along 
with  the  Methodists.  He  did  not,  however,  succeed 
in  expurgating  Methodism  from  his  family,  for  some 
of  their  descendants  are  now  among  our  wealthy  and 
devoted  members  in  that  region."^ 

One  or  two  other  incidents  illustrative  of  the  times 
we  shall  draw  from  the  same  source.  The  first  is 
from  the  pen  of  Abner  Chase,  one  of  the  early  co- 
labourers  of  Mr.  Hedding,  and  gives  a  characteristic 
view  of  the  annoyances  they  suffered  in  their  meet- 
ings. It  was  a  quarterly  meeting,  which  was  held  in 
a  large  barn,  the  female  part  of  the  congregation 
occupying  the  floor,  while  the  men  occupied  the  "hay- 
mow." "While  the  prayer  meeting  on  Saturday 
afternoon,"  says  Mr.  Chase,  "was  progressing  in  a 
good  spirit,  a  wagon  was  driven  up,  in  which  was  a 
number  of  persons  of  both  sexes.  They  came  in  high 
glee,  alighted  from  the  wagon,  and,  after  standing  a 
while  at  the  door,  and  listening  to  several  prayers 
*  Troy  Conference  Miscellany,  p.  41. 


106 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1802. 


from  some  of  the  females,  one  of  the  joung  women 
from  the  wagon  pressed  through  the  crowd,  declaring 
that  she  would  pull  down  the  next  female  that  at- 
tempted to  pray.    Accordingly,  as  one  commenced 
praying,  she  laid  hold  of  her  hair  and  drew  her  back- 
ward ;  and  when  another  commenced  she  treated  her 
in  like  maimer.    This  produced  a  great  excitement 
throughout  the  congregation,  and  yet  no  forcible 
means  were  used  to  compel  the  young  woman  to 
cease  from  her  rudeness;  but  several  of  the  females 
commenced  praying  that  God  would  lay  his  hand 
upon  her,  and  show  her  and  her  companions  that 
he  could  vindicate  his  own  cause  and  people.  The 
spirit  of  these  praying  females  seemed  to  be  instantly 
diffused  throughout  the  praying  part  of  the  assembly, 
as  by  a  flash  of  electricity ;  and  I  have  often  thought 
that  if  I  ever  saw  a  company  of  people  agreed,  as 
touching  one  thing,  it  was  on  that  occasion.  While 
lips  and  heart  were  thus  employed,  this  rude  young 
woman  seemed  to  be  paralyzed,  and  stood  like  a 
statue;  a  death-like  paleness  came  over  her  coun- 
tenance ;  she  trembled  and  fell  to  the  floor  as  one 
dead.    A  loud  shriek  was  uttered  by  her  companions 
at  the  door ;  and  after  a  short  pause,  two  young  men, 
who  had  accompanied  her  to  the  place,  pressed  through 
the  crowd, — though  with  as  much  apparent  alarm  as 
though  they  had  been  approaching  a  loaded  cannon 
ready  to  be  discharged, — laid  hold  of  her  clothing  and 
drew  her  through  the  congregation,  and  through  the 
barn-yard,  which  had  recently  been  wet  by  a  shower ; 


1802.] 


LIGHTS    AND  SHADES. 


107 


tearing  her  garments  in  their  haste,  and  besmearing 
them  with  mud  and  manure."  In  this  ludicrous 
plight  they  threw  her  like  a  log  into  the  wagon, 
pitched  in  themselves  with  all  possible  haste,  and 
drove  away  at  the  top  of  their  speed.  "What  be- 
came of  her  afterward,"  says  Mr.  Chase,  "I  never 
learned." 

"We  add  another  incident  which  also  goes  to  illus- 
trate the  lights  and  shades  of  itinerant  life  in  this  early 
day.  The  incident  occurred  not  far  from  Starks- 
borough,  and  is  given  on  the  authority  of  Rev.  Ebe- 
nezer  Washburn,  who  commenced  his  itinerant  career 
the  same  year  and  in  the  same  region  with  Mr.  Hed- 
ding.  "  In  this  place,"  says  he,  referring  to  the  vicin- 
ity of  Hinesburg,  "  was  a  wealthy  Dutchman  by  the 
name  of  Snyder,  who  had  a  large  family.  His  young- 
est child,  an  interesting  little  girl  about  four  or  five 
years  old,  sickened  and  suddenly  died.  They  called  a 
Baptist  preacher  to  attend  the  fimeral,  who  preached 
a  pointed  Calvinistic  sermon,  which  did  not  much 
please  the  Dutchman,  he  having  been  brought  up  to 
believe  the  doctrines  of  Luther.  But  when  the 
preacher  turned  his  address  to  the  afflicted  parents, 
he  told  them  that  there  were  at  least  nine  chances  for 
the  child  to  be  lost  to  one  for  it  to  be  saved.  The 
father's  heart  could  bear  no  more.  He  stamped  his 
foot  and  said,  '  Hold  your  tongue  ;  I  will  have  no  such 
talk  in  my  house.  I  am  so  well  satisfied  where  my 
little  babe  has  gone,  that,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  in- 
tend to  do  just  so  as  to  go  to  it.'    He  then  turned  to 

5* 


108  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1802. 

a  member  of  tlie  Methodist  Cliiircli  wlio  was  present, 
and  said:  'Xeighbonr  ]^orton,  won't  you  bring  a 
Methodist  preacher  to  see  me?'  Brother  ISTorton 
said, '  I  will,  if  jou  request  it.'  '  When  will  you  bring 
one  V  said  he.  Brother  ITorton  replied, '  I  expect  one 
at  my  house  to-night ;  and  I  think  it  probable  I  can 
come  here  with  him  to-morrow  morning.'  '  Do,'  said 
the  afflicted  father.  The  child  was  buried  without 
farther  ceremony.  The  next  morning  brother  Norton 
and  I  went  to  see  him.  The  whole  family  were  col- 
lected together,  and  I  conversed  with  each  one  sepa- 
rately, gave  a  general  exhortation,  and  prayed  with 
them.  I  then  left  an  appointment  to  preach  there  in 
two  weeks,  and  went  on  my  way  rejoicing.  "When  I 
came  round  again  I  found  the  man,  his  wife,  and 
several  of  the  children,  earnestly  seeking  the  salva- 
tion of  their  souls.  I  preached  to  them  and  a  goodly 
number  of  their  neighbours.  The  Lord  was  with  us, 
and  owned  and  blessed  his  word.  The  old  gentleman, 
his  wife,  and  some  of  the  children  experienced  relig- 
ion and  joined  the  Church;  and  when  I  left  the  cir- 
cuit, I  left  a  flourishing  class  in  that  place,  of  which 
brother  Snyder  was  the  leader." 

Incidents  like  the  above  give  us  a  better  insight 
into  the  prevailing  temper  of  the  times,  the  state  of 
society,  the  agencies  at  work  in  it,  and  the  prevailing 
features  of  the  Methodistic  movement,  than  could  be 
obtained  from  any  merely  verbal  description.  Here 
the  curtain  seems  to  fall ;  that  former  age  comes  up 
to  oui-  vision,  and  passes  in  panoramic  view  before 


1803.]  THE   ASHGROVE   CONFERENCE.  109 

US.  The  "  anecdotes  of  early  Methodism  "  would  not 
only  fill  a  volume,  but  add  an  interesting  and  import- 
ant chapter  to  its  history.  Indeed,  not  a  little  of  the 
philosophy  of  Methodism,  as  it  is  with  the  philosophy 
of  human  life,  would  be  found  embodied  and  devel- 
oped in  its  anecdotal  history. 

TVe  come  now  to  the  celebrated  session  of  the  l^ew- 
York  Conference  at  Ashgrove,  in  1803.  Ashgrove 
was  situated  in  the  town  of  Cambridge,  Washington 
County,  E^ew-York.  It  had  received  its  name  from 
a  Mr.  Ashton,  an  Irish  emigrant,  who,  with  others, 
had  settled  in  the  place,  and  planted  Methodism 
there.  The  society  was  organized  by  Philip  Embury, 
who  had  removed  to  the  place  after  having  founded 
a  society  and  built  a  church  in  the  city  of  ISTew-York. 
This  man,  who  is  now  everywhere  recognised  as  the 
first  Methodist  preacher  upon  this  continent,  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  lived  in  humble  life,  and  died 
here  in  1YY5.  In  Ashgrove  the  first  society  was 
formed, and  the  first  church  erected, within  the  bounds 
of  the  present  Troy  Conference.  The  church  was 
erected  in  1788,  and  that  year,  for  the  first  time,  the 
little  society  was  favoured  with  preaching  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  conference.  It  became,  at  an  early 
date,  one  of  the  strongholds  of  Methodism  in  the 
coimtry.  "  Around  it  cluster  some  of  the  most  inter- 
esting associations  of  our  early  denominational  his- 
tory." Here  repose  the  ashes  of  the  sainted  Embury, 
whose  name  has  gone  wherever  Methodism  has  spread 
in  its  world-wide  career.    He  sleeps  in  the  company 


110  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1803. 

of  a  noble  band  of  pioneers,  with  whom  he  took  sweet 
counsel  in  the  time  of  his  pilgrimage.* 

The  session  of  the  conference  commenced  July  1st. 
Bishops  Asbnrj  and  Whatcoat  were  both  present. 
Public  preaching  was  had  in  the  church  every  day  at 
twelve  o'clock ;  but  the  business  sessions  of  the  con- 
ference were  held  in  a  large  private  room  of  one  of 
the  members.  Seats  were  made  out  of  rough  boards 
for  the  preachers,  while  two  plain  chairs  near  the 
window  accommodated  the  bishops.  The  business  of 
the  conference  was  transacted  with  great  despatch.f 
Nearly  seventy  preachers  were  present.  It  was  a 
great  and  glorious  time  for  tlie  ministers,  and  also 
for  the  members,  in  all  that  region.  The  people 
gathered  from  all  the  adjacent  country,  so  that  on 
the  Sabbath  not  less  than  two  thousand  persons 
had  convened  in  and  around  the  church  to  attend 
upon  the  ministry  of  the  word  and  the  ordinances  of 
religion.  The  power  of  God  attended  upon  the  word, 
and  great  good  was  done.  Mr.  Hedding,  having 
passed  through  his  trial  of  two  years,  was  admitted 
into  full  connexion ;  and,  on  the  fourth  of  the  month, 
was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Whatcoat. 

At  the  close  of  the  conference  he  received  his  ap- 
pointment to  the  Bridgewater  Circuit,  in  the  State  of 
]^ew-Hampshire.    No  sooner  had  the  annoimcement 

See  "  Troy  Conference  Miscellany,"  p.  24 ;  also  "  Methodist  Maga- 
zine "  for  1827. 

t  See  "  Recollections  of  William  Theophilus,"  (Rev.  Wm.  Thatcher,) 
a  pilgrim  of  threescore.    Published  by  Carlton  &  Phillips. 


1803.] 


BEIDGEWATER  CIRCUIT. 


Ill 


been  made  than,  in  the  true  spirit  of  the  times,  he 
mounted  his  horse  with  his  saddle-bags,  containing  all 
his  earthly  goods — "  real,  personal,  and  mixed  " — and 
started  npon  his  long  journey  to  find  his  circuit  among 
the  distant  hills  of  a  new  state  and  a  strange  people. 
He  had  for  his  travelKng  companions  the  noble  John 
Broadhead  and  his  pious  and  estimable  lady ;  and  in 
their  delightful  intercourse  beguiled  many  a  long  and 
weary  mile. 

Bridgewater  Circuit  lay  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the 
State  of  Kew-Hampshire.  It  had  been  recognised 
and  the  plan  of  a  circuit  struck  out  at  the  preceding 
session  of  the  conference,  with  a  membership  of  ten 
souls.  In  this  hard  field  of  labour  the  Rev.  Eeuben 
Jones  had  passed  a  year  of  toilsome  and  discouraging- 
labour.  The  circuit  comprised  thirteen  towns,  and 
required  about  one  hundred  miles'  travel  each  week, 
two  sermons  usually  on  each  week-day,  and  three  on 
the  Sabbath.  It  was  a  rough,  hilly,  and  rocky  coim- 
try,  intersected  by  roads  in  the  worst  possible  con- 
dition to  be  travelled.  He  had  no  colleague,  but  was 
left  to  bear  the  burden  alone.  Before  labours  that 
might  have  taxed  the  severe  efibrts  of  two  able  men 
he  stood  unappalled,  and  entered  upon  them  with  the 
firm  resolve  "  to  do  or  to  die  "  for  the  Lord. 

At  the  very  commencement  of  his  labours  there 
were  indications  of  a  more  general  and  sweeping  re- 
vival than  he  had  ever  witnessed  before.  They  were 
apparent  in  nearly  every  neighbourhood  where  he 
had  an  appointment.    The  whole  population  seemed 


112 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1803. 


to  be  moved  as  hj  some  invincible  yet  miseen  power. 
Mr.  Hedding  says  of  these  times :  "  I  never,  before 
nor  since,  have  seen  such  marks  of  an  overwhelming 
and  sweeping  revival  of  the  work  of  God.  So  deeply 
were  the  people  interested  to  hear  the  preaching,  that 
often  we  were  driven  to  a  bam  or  a  grove,  that  they 
might  be  accommodated.  And  so  wholly  absorbed 
were  they  about  their  souls'  concern,  that  the  scattered 
population  would  collect  on  week  day — men  in  harv- 
est-time coming,  on  horseback,  ten  or  fifteen  miles  to 
hear  the  word.  The  whole  country  seemed  to  think 
and  talk  of  nothing  but  what  they  must  do  to  be 
saved."  This  great  movement  among  the  people  ex- 
cited deeply  his  own  feelings ;  and,  having  no  fellow- 
labourer  to  aid  him,  he  exerted  himself  beyond  even 
his  own  herculean  powers  of  physical  endurance. 

Hardly  six  weeks  had  elapsed  before  he  was  pros- 
trated by  a  severe  and  dangerous  attack  of  disease. 
There  was  not  a  single  local  preacher  on  the  entire 
circuit,  nor  any  other  man  capable  of  keeping  up  the 
meetings  and  carrying  forward  the  work.  I^'either 
was  there,  at  that  time,  any  prospect  that  help  could 
be  obtained  from  any  other  circuit.  The  meetiugs 
were  interrupted  and,  to  a  great  extent,  given  up,  so 
that  the  glorious  prospect  that  had  so  lately  cheered 
the  hearts  of  all  lovers  of  Zion,  passed  away  without 
any  of  the  promised  practical  results.  The  devil  him- 
self seemed  to  enter  the  field.  Many  evil  and  slander- 
ous reports  were  spread  abroad  about  the  Methodists, 
andj  in  many  instances,  those  who  would  once  have 


1803.] 


DANGEROUS  ILLNESS. 


113 


plucked  out  their  eyes,  had  it  been  necessary,  to  aid 
God's  servants  in  their  work,  became  their  most  bit- 
ter foes.  This  was  the  cause  of  inexpressible  grief  to 
Mr.  Hedding,  and  fearfully  aggravated  his  disease. 
To  sicken  and  die  away  from  kindred  and  home, 
among  strangers  and  in  a  strange  place,  seemed  not 
half  so  appalling  to  his  feelings  as  to  see  the  hosts  of 
Zion  recoil,  and  leave  the  field  defeated  and  dis- 
pirited, when  the  shout  of  victory  had  already  begun 
to  ring  along  the  victorious  line.  Can  any  one  won- 
der that  his  mind  was  sorely  tempted  ?  "Was  it  not  a 
first,  great,  and  profitable,  though  severe  lesson,  de- 
signed to  teach  him  that  the  Christian  minister  must 
walh  hy  faith  and  not  hy  sight  f  and  that  he  must 
sow  his  seed^  not  hnowing  whether  this  or  that  shall 
prosper  f 

His  disease,  which  was  at  first  a  malignant  form  of 
dysentery,  had  progressed  but  a  few  days  when  his 
friends  gave  up  all  hope  of  his  recovery,  and  became 
so  convinced  of  the  near  approach  of  his  dissolution 
that  they  privately  sent  a  man  thirty  miles  to  meet 
the  presiding  elder  at  his  quarterly  meeting  and  get 
him  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon.  Happily  for  the 
Church  and  the  world,  before  the  presiding  elder's  ar- 
rival the  disease  had  taken  a  favourable  turn,  and 
instead  of  lamenting  the  fall  of  a  standard-bearer, 
they  rejoiced  in  his  deliverance  from  the  very  jaws 
of  death. 

When  partially  recovered,  he  attempted  to  resume 
his  labours  on  the  circuit.    He  rode  fifteen  miles  and 


114 


LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF  HEDDING. 


[1803. 


attended  an  appointment;  but  the  effort  was  too 
mucli  for  him.  He  took  cold.  A  terrible  attack  of 
rheumatism  set  in,  affecting  his  whole  system,  and 
causing  the  most  excruciating  pain.  He  became 
entirely  helpless,  unable  to  move  a  hand  or  finger. 
Some  of  his  joints  were  dislocated,  and  one  of  his 
wrists  was  not  only  drawn  out  of  joint,  but  the  hand 
stood  out  at  right  angles  with  his  arm  for  four  months, 
and  was  entirely  helpless  during  all  that  time.  By 
the  use  of  bandages  and  splinters  the  doctor  finally 
got  it  back  nearly  to  its  place,  though  it  never  became 
sound  and  strong  as  before.  For  six  weeks  he  was 
unable  to  turn  himself  in  his  bed ;  and  it  was  four 
months  before  he  could  walk  across  the  room.  The 
effects  of  that  terrible  attack  were  suffered  by  him 
through  all  his  after-life. 

During  his  first  sickness  his  mind  preserved  a  calm 
and  comfortable  reliance  upon  God,  and  he  enjoyed 
great  religious  consolation  and  hope.  But  during  the 
first  ten  days  of  his  attack  with  the  rheumatism,  and 
while  he  was  suffering  great  bodily  distress,  he  was 
powerfully  assailed  by  temptations  from  the  devil. 
He  was  tried,  like  Job  of  old,  in  a  most  fearful  ordeal ; 
but  he  maintained  his  steadfastness,  maintained  his 
confidence  in  God,  and  came  forth  like  gold  tried  in 
the  fire.  Beferring  to  this  scene  of  trial  in  his  later 
years,  he  said,  "  The  pain  I  suffered  was  beyond  any- 
thing I  had  ever  endm'ed  or  conceived  of  before ;  and 
Satan  took  advantage  of  it  to  tempt  me  most  violently. 
If  I  never  had  any  other  confirmation  of  the  exist- 


1803.] 


TKIAL   OF   HIS  FAITH. 


115 


ence  of  the  devil  and  his  power  to  tempt  men  than 
what  I  felt  in  his  severe  assaults  upon  me  at  that  time, 
I  could  never  doubt  his  existence.  He  tempted  me 
day  and  night  to  blaspheme,  and  would  say  to  me, 
^What  have  you  ever  done  that  you  should  suffer 
this  ?  Curse  God  and  die !'  In  my  distress  of  mind 
I  cried  continually  to  the  Lord,  and  prayed  for  de- 
liverance and  protection.  I  said  to  Satan,  'I  will 
not,  I  will  not !'  But  so  great  was  my  fear  that  I 
should  be  overcome  that  I  held  my  teeth  together, 
lest  blaspheming  words  should  escape  from  me. 
When  this  attack  of  my  enemy  had  continued  ten 
days,  I  obtained  a  complete  victory  over  him,  and 
my  soul  triumphed  exceedingly  in  the  Lord."  Such 
was  his  fear  lest  in  his  weakness  he  had  inadvertently 
yielded  to  the  temptation  and  murmured  against  God, 
that  it  became  a  source  of  painful  anxiety  to  his  mind 
as  he  was  recovering  from  his  sickness.  He  earnestly 
desired  the  good  woman  who  had  watched  over  him 
in  his  sickness  to  tell  him  plainly  whether  he  had 
murmured  or  repined  under  the  chastening  hand  of 
God,  and,  to  his  great  relief,  she  assured  him  that  he 
had  not  uttered  a  single  complaining  word. 

While  recovering  he  was  subjected  to  still  another 
trial  of  his  faith.  He  found  himself  crippled  in  his 
limbs,  and  his  physician  plainly  told  him  he  would 
probably  be  a  cripple  for  life.  This  was  to  him  a 
severe  trial,  and  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  be- 
come reconciled  to  it.  His  continual  cry  was,  "  Lord, 
help  me  to  say,  '  Thy  will  be  done.' "    At  length  he 


116  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1803. 

settled  the  matter  thus  in  his  own  mind :  "  You  don't 
now  know  certainly  that  jou  will  be  a  cripple.  You 
may  yet,  ^vith.  the  blessing  of  God,  recover.  To 
trouble  your  mind  about  it  now  is  not  only  useless, 
but  of  evil  influence.  Wait,  then,  and  see  what  God 
will  do.  K  he  afllict,  when  the  sorrow  comes  you 
may  at  least  claim  the  promise  that  as  your  day  is,  so 
shall  your  strength  He  was  now  able  to  commit 
himself  fully  to  the  Lord,  and  came  forth  out  of  this 
second  conflict  with  gushing  joy  in  his  heart  and  songs 
of  praise  upon  his  lips. 

Thrice  had  he  been  tried  in  the  furnace.  Fii*st  he 
was  laid  aside  just  as  the  fields  were  all  white,  and  the 
reapei-s  were  going  forth  to  gather  in  the  harvest ; 
and  then,  when  he  saw  the  whole  harvest  scattered 
and  apparently  wasted,  was  schooled  into  the  submis- 
sion, "  Thy  will  be  done."  Again,  when  death  seemed 
just  ready  to  cut  short  his  career,  while  yet  in  the 
first  heat  of  the  conflict,  he  was  once  more  schooled 
into  submission  till  he  could  say  even  here, Thy  will 
be  done."  But  the  trial  of  his  faith  was  not  yet 
ended.  He  was  called  once  more  to  look  upon  the 
spectre  of  himself,  a  haggard,  repulsive,  useless  crip- 
ple— a  burden  to  his  friends,  an  object  of  loathing  to 
men — wearing  away  a  miserable  existence  in  inaction 
and  dependence.  The  struggle  was  severe  ;  but,  with 
the  faith  almost  of  martyrdom,  he  was  enabled  yet  a 
third  time  to  say,  "Thy  will  be  done."  Having 
undergone  this  trial  of  his  faith,  God  brought  him 
forth  and  planted  his  feet  in  a  broad  place;  and 


1803.]  NOBLE   CHRISTIAN    CHARITY.  117 

henceforward  we  shall  not  wonder  to  find  him  pos- 
sessed of  that  matmity  of  grace  which  seems  almost  to 
give  exemption  from  the  ordinary  assaults  of  Satan. 
Like  Abraham,  he  had  been  thoroughly  proved,  and 
henceforward,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  was  he  to  be 
known  as  "  the  friend  of  God." 

One  incident  connected  with  his  protracted  sick- 
ness, for  the  honour  of  our  common  Christianity,  must 
not  be  overlooked.  We  have  already  noticed  that 
he  fell  sick  far  away  from  his  home  and  kindred, 
and  among  comparative  strangers.  We  hardly  need 
state  also  that  he  was  destitute  of  all  means  of  sup- 
port. Such  was  then  the  almost  universal  condition 
of  the  Methodist  ministry.  They  went  forth  without 
purse  or  scrip ;  they  trusted  simply  in  God  and  his 
providence  to  open  their  way  in  labour,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  them  in  misfortune  and  sickness.  And  rarely 
were  they  ever  left  without  succour  in  the  time  of  need. 
Mr.  Hedding  fell  sick  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Blodgett, 
at  that  time  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church  in  Ply- 
mouth, I^"ew-Hampshire.  He  says  of  this  man  and 
his  excellent  lady,  that  they  were  like  Zacharias  and 
Elizabeth,  walking  in  the  ordinances  of  God  without 
blame.  A  married  son,  who,  with  his  wife,  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  lived  in  the  same 
house.  They  were  exceedingly  kind  and  attentive — 
ministering  with  the  greatest  tenderness  and  care  to 
all  his  wants.  Of  their  kindness  Mr.  Hedding  bore  a 
grateful  recollection  till  the  day  of  his  death.  Eefer- 
ring  to  it  in  later  years  he  said :  "  The  nature  of  my 


118  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1803. 

disease  was  such  as  to  require  much  hard  service ;  for 
six  weeks  it  took  four  persons  to  turn  me  in  bed,  and 
this  it  was  necessary  to  do  every  two  hours.  Mr. 
Blodgett  and  his  family,  and  their  neighbours,  regu- 
larly and  cheerfully  perfonned  this  service  the  whole 
time.  They  sent  for  medicines  and  physicians  ;  they 
procured  watchers  to  be  with  me  in  the  night ;  they 
could  not  have  done  more,  or  done  it  more  cheerfully, 
or  done  it  more  heartily,  had  I  been  their  own  son. 
And  for  all  this  service  and  expense  they  utterly  re- 
fused all  fee  or  reward.  May  He  that  hath  promised 
that  a  cup  of  cold  water  given  to  a  disciple  in  his 
name  shall  not  lose  its  reward,  remember  and  re- 
ward them  in  that  day."  It  does  the  heart  good  to 
record  such  noble  and  generous  Christian  hospitality. 
Mr.  Redding  and  his  kind  benefactor  have,  no  doubt, 
ere  this  renewed  the  ties  of  Christian  love  in  that  land 
where  there  is  no  sickness. 

It  was  eight  months  before  Mr.  Hedding  had  re- 
covered far  enough  to  enable  him  to  resume  his  la- 
bours. ISTor  was  it  till  the  ensuing  May  that  he  was 
able  to  put  on  his  clothes  or  get  them  off  without 
help.  He  often  prayed  and  preached  sitting  on  a 
chair,  when  he  could  neither  stand  nor  walk.  His 
friends  would  help  him  on  and  off  his  horse  as  he 
rode  from  one  appointment  to  another.  His  hands 
were  of  so  little  use  to  him  that  he  was  often  com- 
pelled to  hold  his  bridle  between  his  teeth.  In  this 
crippled  state  he  found  it  exceedingly  difficult  to 
guide  or  check  his  horse ;  and,  to  the  great  peril  of 


1803.] 


VISITS  SARATOGA. 


119 


both  limbs  and  life,  lie  was  actually  thrown  from  his 
back  no  less  than  ten  times  while  travelling  romid  the 
circuit.  Yet  he  counted  not  his  life  dear  unto  him- 
self so  that  he  might  fulfil  the  ministry  of  the  grace 
of  God  which  he  had  received.  It  was  a  year  of  great 
personal  afflictions  and  trials,  but  one  of  great  spirit- 
ual growth  to  his  own  soul,  and  not  without  some 
good  to  the  people  of  his  charge. 

Finding  the  progress  of  his  recovery  slow,  and  evi- 
dently retarded  by  his  efforts  to  perform  labours  for 
which  he  was  entirely  inadequate,  he  left  the  circuit 
some  weeks  before  the  session  of  the  conference, 
crossed  the  Green  Mountains  on  horseback,  and  spent 
several  days  at  Saratoga,  hoping  to  derive  advantage 
from  the  medicinal  properties  of  the  waters.  His 
stay,  however,  was  too  short  to  afford  him  any  great 
relief  From  Saratoga  he  passed  on  to  Catskill, 
where  he  left  his  horse,  and  took  passage  on  board  a 
sloop  for  ITew-York  city.  This,  at  that  time,  was 
the  usual  mode  of  travelling  on  the  river ;  and  the 
boat  was  unusually  crowded  with  passengers,  many 
of  them  evidently  rather  "hard  customers."  By 
leave  of  the  captain  he  preached  to  the  people  on 
board,  and  here  sought  to  win  some  souls  to  Christ. 
The  passengers  and  crew  were  respectfiil  and  attent- 
ive, but  no  manifest  effects  were  produced.  As  they 
were  passing  through  the  ISTarrows  in  the  Highlands, 
the  crew,  who  were  evidently  of  the  "baser  sort," 
thought  to  have  some  sport  with  the  young  preacher. 
They  inquired  whether  he  had  ever  before  passed 


120  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1804. 

through  the  Highlands,  and  finding  that  he  had  not, 
claimed  that,  according  to  custom,  he  must  treat  them 
with  a  quart  of  whisky,  or  allow  himself  to  be  ducked 
in  the  river.  He  told  them  that  he  neither  drank 
whisky  nor  furnished  it  to  others,  and  that  they 
need  expect  no  such  thing  from  him.  They  made  a 
movement  toward  the  execution  of  their  alternative, 
when  rising  to  his  full  height,  and  exhibiting  an 
athletic  frame  and  a  development  of  muscle  rather 
formidable  to  contend  with,  he  told  them  it  would 
be  a  question  of  skill  and  power  whether  he  or  they 
would  be  the  first  to  go  into  the  river.  Things  hav- 
ing taken  a  turn  so  serious  to  them,  they  retreated 
rather  hastily  and  ingloriously  from  their  meditated 
sport  with  the  preacher,  and  thenceforward  treated 
him  with  great  respect,  at  least  with  as  much  as  their 
rough  natures  knew  how  to  treat  him  with. 

The  session  of  the  conference  for  1804  was  again 
held  in  the  old  John-street  Church,  in  the  city  of 
Xew-Tork.  Bishop  Asbury  presided,  and  though  it 
was,  as  usual,  a  season  of  spiritual  profit  to  the  preach- 
ers and  people,  nothing  of  special  interest  transpired. 
The  feeble  state  of  his  health  occasioned  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  some  solicitude  in  regard  to  his  appointment. 
Accordingly,  in  a  note  addressed  to  the  bishop,  he 
stated  his  case,  and  requested  that,  in  view  of  the 
benefit  physicians  thought  he  might  derive  from  the 
use  of  the  waters,  he  might  be  sent  to  the  Saratoga 
Circuit,  if  the  circumstances  of  the  work  would 
admit  of  such  an  arrangement.    He  heard  nothing 


1804.] 


A   RESTING  PLACE. 


121 


from  his  note  till  near  the  close  of  the  conference, 
when,  as  he  was  sitting  in  his  seat.  Bishop  Asbury 
came  to  him  and  in  an  intimate  and  friendly  manner 
with  both  hands  rubbed  his  ears  briskly,  and  whis- 
pered, "John  Brodhead  says  yon  must  go  back  to 
New-Hampshire ;"  then  turning  abruptly,  the  bish- 
op resumed  his  seat  as  the  presiding  officer  of  the 
conference.  At  the  close  of  the  session,  he  was 
appointed  to  Hanover  Circuit,  John  Brodhead, 
who  had  travelled  it  the  year  before,  having  been 
made  presiding  elder  of  the  newly-organized  ISTew- 
Hampshire  District. 

With  his  usual  celerity  Mr.  Hedding  was  soon  en 
route  for  his  appointment.  This  was  a  comparatively 
easy  circuit  to  travel.  He  says  :  "  My  presiding  el- 
der told  me  I  was  placed  upon  it  for  that  reason,  and 
I  found  it,  indeed,  a  resting  place^  compared  with 
those  I  had  already  travelled."  His  usual  routine  of 
labour  he  thus  describes:  "On  one  Sabbath  I  was 
accustomed  to  preach  twice  in  the  day  time  in  the 
centre  of  the  town  of  Hanover,  in  a  Congregational 
meeting-house,  where  they  had  no  settled  minister. 
In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  I  would  ride  to  the 
village  where  Dartmouth  College  is  located,  and 
preach  in  a  private  house  or  school-house.  On  the 
next  Sabbath  I  preached  in  the  town  of  Canaan,  al- 
ways twice  and  sometimes  three  times j  thus  keeping  up 
preaching  on  alternate  Sabbaths  in  these  two  towns." 
In  addition  to  his  Sabbath  appointments,  he  had  one 
week-day  appointment  in  Lebanon,  one  in  Enfield, 


122  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1804. 


and  oiie  in  Hartford,  Yt.,  besides  frequent  lectures 
in  remote  neighbourhoods  both  in  Hanover  and  Ca- 
naan. Thus  he  usually  preached  six  or  seven  times 
during  each  week,  besides  attending  class  and  prayer 
meetings,  preaching  frmeral  sermons,  and  performing 
the  pastoral  labour  of  his  charge.  If  this  was  a  'West- 
ting  jplace^'^  for  a  disabled  preacher  in  those  days, 
what  must  have  been  the  work  of  able-bodied  men ! 

In  these  early  times  an  unmarried  Methodist 
preacher  had  no  fixed  place,  even  on  his  circuit,  to 
which  he  could  resort  and  say,  "  This  is  my  home." 
He  lived  from  house  to  house,  as  providence  or  friend- 
ship paved  the  way.  His  home  was  literally  among 
the  people.  This  strict  itinerancy^  though  a  sort  of 
necessity  in  those  times,  and  attended  with  some  ad- 
vantages both  to  the  peojDle  and  preacher,  often  sub- 
jected the  latter  to  not  a  little  inconvenience  and  em- 
barrassment, and  was  exceedingly  detrimental  to  his 
intellectual  improvement.  Among  the  people  who 
entertained  him,  there  would  be  a  great  variety  in 
their  modes  of  living  and  in  their  general  habits ;  he 
would  ofter  suffer  from  the  scanty  provision  made  for 
his  physical  comfort.  To  gather  a  library,  or  even  to 
expect  access  to  any  considerable  or  valuable  collec- 
tion of  books,  was  entirely  out  of  the  question.  Even 
the  privilege  of  a  separate  room  for  study  was  a 
luxury  rarely  enjoyed,  except  when  with  his  favourite 
book  he  retired  to  the  sanctuary  of  the  ancient  forest 
to  be  alone. 

Whatever  Mr.  Hedding  had  suffered  in  any  of  these 


1804.]  OPPORTrNITIES    FOR    STUDY.  123 

pai*ticiilars  in  former  years,  on  Hanover  Circuit  he 
was  liiglilj  favoured.    He  found  no  lack  of  open 
houses  and  kind  hearts  ready  to  receive  and  enter- 
tain him.    His  opportunities  for  study  also  were  bet- 
ter than  ever  before ;  and  he  was  diligent  in  the 
improvement  of  them.    It -was  here  that  he  fii'st  began 
to  give  earnest  attention  to  the  structure  of  the  Eng- 
lish language,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  that  critical 
knowledge  and  use  of  it  that  characterized  him  in  after 
years.    He  never  paid  much  attention  to  the  acquisi- 
tion of  other  languages  than  his  own.    His  shrewd 
observation  led  him  to  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  that 
many  men  who  were  accounted  learned,  and  who 
really  were  learned  in  the  ancient  languages,  and 
also  well  read  in  general  literature  and  philosophy, 
were  after  all  exceedingly  deficient  in  the  knowledge 
and  use  of  their  mother  tongue.    However  skilled 
they  might  be  in  Cicero  and  Demosthenes,  they 
could  not  analyze  accurately  and  ascertain  certainly 
a  complicated  sentence  in  Milton  or  Shakspeare. 
He  thus  reasoned :  "  Pleasing  and  important  as  may 
be  the  knowledge  of  ancient  languages,  it  is  of  more 
importance  to  have  a  critical  knowledge  of  our  own. 
Just  as  a  complete  knowledge,  and  a  mastery  in  the 
use  of  implements  to  be  handled  every  day,  and 
upon  the  right  use  of  which  success  in  life  depends, 
are  of  more  importance  than  the  knowledge  of  the  most 
complicated  mathematical  instruments  to  one  who 
will  seldom  have  occasion  to  use  them ;  so  the  knowl- 
edge of  our  mother  tongue  is  of  first  and  vital  import- 


124  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1804. 

ance."  It  is  not  to  be  inferred  that  he  deemed  a 
defective  knowledge  of  Enghsh  hterature  a  necessary- 
result  of  attention  to  classical  studies,  or  that  he  under- 
rated the  value  of  such  studies.  Such  was  never  the 
fact.  But  at  his  age,  with  such  limited  facilities,  and 
such  a  work  before  him,  he  looked  upon  the  mastery 
of  the  English  language  as  the  only  thing  within  his 
power ;  and  this  he  wisely  determined  to  achieve. 
Inspired  by  this  new  determination,  he  fii*st  turned  his 
attention  to  English  Grammar.  When  a  lad  at  school 
he  had  recited  daily  lessons  in  grammar,  till  a  good 
portion  of  the  text-book  in  use  had  been  committed 
to  memory.  But  grammar,  as  a  system,  he  knew 
nothing  about ;  it  had  never  been  explained  to  him ; 
and  he  says,  "  I  do  not  believe  one  of  my  teachers 
understood  it."  He  had  to  study  without  teachers, 
only  as  he  now  and  then  fell  in  with  a  person  versed  in  | 
the  subject,  and  by  questioning  him,  drew  forth  sug- 
gestions and  principles  that  solved  his  difficulties.  He 
bought  a  copy  of  each  of  the  grammars  then  in  use, 
that  he  might  gather  knowledge  by  comparison ;  but 
he  mainly  relied  upon  Webster's.  To  obtain  time,  he 
omitted  reading  other  books,  except  on  the  Sabbath ; 
he  also  omitted  making  new  sermons,  and  preached 
over  those  he  had  made  in  previous  years.  He  car- 
ried his  grammars  in  his  portmanteau,  and  seized 
every  moment,  early  and  late,  in  his  room  and  upon 
horseback,  to  study  them.  Whatever  he  could  not 
understand  in  one  book,  he  searched  out  in  the  others, 
comparing  them  together  till  he  had  solved  the  most 


1804.] 


MODE   OF  STUDY. 


125 


abstruse  questions,  and  had  obtained  a  complete  mas- 
tery over  the  rules  and  principles  of  the  system.  To 
increase  his  own  skill  and  perfect  his  knowledge, 
whenever  among  those  who  prided  themselves  upon 
their  knowledge  of  grammar,  he  would  bring  forward 
the  most  difficult  sentences  in  order  to  exercise  their 
skill  in  analyzing  them.  By  these  various  means  he 
made  himself  master  of  the  system  in  about  three 
months.  From  the  raw  state  he  had  so  advanced 
that  he  could  analyze  and  parse  understandingly  any 
legitimate  sentence  in  the  English  language.  The 
effect  of  this  study  upon  his  habit  and  style  of  speak- 
ing he  thus  describes:  "For  a  while,  after  I  had 
devoured  the  grammar,  it  was  an  embarrassment  to 
me  in  public  speaking,  for  I  had  to  con-ect  certain 
sentences  I  had  been  in  the  habit  of  using ;  but  after 
a  few  months  a  correct  mode  of  speaking  became 
familiar  to  me,  and  all  the  difficulty  vanished." 

He  had  no  sooner  finished  the  study  of  grammar, 
than,  in  the  prosecution  of  his  purpose  to  become 
master  of  his  own  lang-uage,  he  undertook  another 
work,  which,  though  unusual  in  its  mode,  and  which 
none  but*  one  of  his  energy  and  perseverance  would 
have  performed,  he  carried  through  with  similar  suc- 
cess. This  was  to  become  acquainted  with  the  proper 
pronunciation  and  meaning  of  every  English  word 
found  in  the  dictionaries  of  the  language.  Perry's 
Dictionary  was  at  that  time  used  in  the  principal  col- 
leges and  schools,  and  was  the  standard  for  pronun- 
ciation and  definitions  throughout  the  country.  He 


126 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1804. 


purchased  it  and  commenced  its  study.  His  object 
was  to  correct  any  errors,  either  in  the  pronunciation  or 
in  the  application  of  words,  into  which  he  might  have 
fallen.  As  he  read  on  in  course,  he  was  accustomed 
to  mark  the  excepted  words,  and  to  write  them  off, 
and  exercise  himself  upon  them  till  his  habit  was 
thoroughly  corrected.  This  reading  and  notes  em- 
braced not  only  the  dictionary  proper,  but  also  the 
list  of  Scripture  names,  which  he  found  afterward 
to  be  especially  beneficial  to  him.  Thus  he  plodded 
through  the  entire  dictionary.  'Nor  will  it  be  out  of 
place  to  remark  here,  that  a  few  years  later,  when 
Walker's  Dictionary,  so  different  in  its  pronunciation, 
came  into  general  use  in  this  country,  he  went  through 
a  similar  process,  that  he  might  not  fall  behind  the 
more  intelligent  in  the  community  in  his  use  of  lan- 
guage. Still  later,  he  applied  the  same  study  to 
"Webster's.  As  the  result  of  this  application,  he  could 
tell  at  once  how  any  word  was  spelled  and  pronounced, 
and  the  nice  shades  of  definition  given  to  it  by  either 
Perry,  Walker,  or  Webster,  ^^'othing  can  more 
strikingly  illustrate  the  keenness  of  his  perception, 
and  the  almost  unequalled  tenacity  of  his  memory. 

These  studies  of  the  year  produced  a  great  im- 
provement in  his  general  style  of  address.  Those 
who  knew  him  only  in  the  later  years  of  his  ministry 
were  often  struck  with  the  chasteness,  simplicity,  and 
correctness  of  his  style,  whether  in  the  pulpit  or  in 
social  intercourse.  To  such  it  cannot  but  be  pleasing 
to  learn  the  process  by  which  that  simplicity  and 


1805.] 


SCOPE   OF   HIS  STUDIES. 


127 


accuracy  were  acquired.  These  studies,  too,  we 
should  remark,  were  only  stepping-stones  to  others 
in  the  higher  departments  of  English  literature, — 
such  as  rhetoric,  logic,  criticism,  intellectual  and 
moral  philosophy,  political  economy,  and  the  like. 

Though  these  studies  occupied  much  of  his  time, 
his  duties  as  a  preacher  and  pastor  were  not  neglected. 
There  was  nothing  of  remarkable  interest  in  the  work 
upon  the  circuit  during  the  year.  For  two  or  thi'ee 
years  preceding  it  had  been  favoured  with  great 
revivals,  and  many  had  been  gathered  into  the 
Church.  This  year  was  chiefly  devoted  to  building 
up  and  establishing  the  young  converts  in  the  faith. 
There  were  some  conversions,  however ;  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  generally  attended  to  their  duty, 
and  lived  in  the  love  of  God,  and  in  fellowship  one 
with  another.  The  meetings  were  well  attended,  and 
were  pleasant,  edifying,  and  joyful.  "Wherever  Mr. 
Hedding  went  he  was  cordially  received,  and  listened 
to  with  attention  and  deep  interest.  He  prospered 
in  his  own  religious  enjoyment ;  and  nothing  occurred 
upon  the  circuit  to  diminish  the  joy  or  mar  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  members. 


128  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1805. 


CHAPTEK  lY. 

MR.  HEDDIXG  TPOX  BARRE  AND  YERSHIRE  CIRCUITS. 

Mr.  Hedding  in  the  Xew-England  Conference — Leading  Men  of  that  Con- 
ference—  The  Lynn  Session  in  1805  —  Examination  of  Character — Fi- 
nances—  Public  Exercises  —  Progress  of  the  Work  in  New-England  since 
1790  —  Difficulties  and  Opposition  —  Appointed  to  Barre  Circuit  —  Dan 
Young,  his  Colleague  —  Mutual  Assistance  —  Condition  of  the  Circuit  — 
Prosperity  of  the  Work  —  ^Ir.  Hedding  as  a  Disciplinarian  —  Singiilar 
Trial  of  his  Skill  —  Obstacles  opposed  to  Methodism  in  Vermont  —  A 
"  Tithing-man"  in  a  Methodist  Meeting  —  Session  of  the  Conference  for 
1806 — Yearly  Change  of  Preachers  in  Early  Times  —  Appointed  to  Vershire 
Circuit  —  Its  Situation  and  Extent  —  Emigration  —  Loss  of  Official  Mem- 
bers—  Theological  Biasses  of  New-England  —  Doctrinal  Discussions  — 
Onset  with  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  —  Results  —  Characteristic  Labours  of 
Methodist  Pioneers  — Tour  of  a  Young  Itinerant  through  Northern  Ver- 
mont—  Dialogue  with  a  Poor  Woman  —  Powerful  Conversions  —  'Mis. 
Bishop  —  Spirit  and  Agencies  of  the  Methodistic  Revival  —  First  Six 
Years  of  Itinerant  Labour. 

By  a  change  in  the  boundaries  of  the  IS'ew-York  and 
the  ^s'ew-England  Conferences,  that  part  of  the  work 
in  which  Mr.  Hedding  was  engaged,  and  the  preach- 
ers also,  were  transferred  to  the  latter  conference. 
The  IN'ew-England  Conference  at  that  time,  though 
composed  chiefly  of  young  men,  embraced  some  of 
the  noblest  spirits  found  in  the  itinerant  ranks.  Mr. 
Hedding,  though  removed  by  this  change  of  relation 
from  immediate  association  mth  men  for  whom  he 
entertained  a  strong  and  lasting  aflPection,  still  found 
himself  in  the  companionship  of  a  band  of  heroic 
men  of  equal  talent  and  of  like  unquenchable  ardour 
in  the  cause  of  God.    Among  the  leading  men  in  the 


1805.1  BARRE   AND   VERSHIRE   CIRCUITS.  129 


JS'ew-England  Conference  were  George  Pickering, 
Joshua  Taylor,  Daniel  Ostrander,  John  Brodhead, 
Daniel  Webb,  Epaphras  Kibby,  Elijah  R.  Sabin, 
Joshua  Soule,  Ebenezer  Washburn,  Thomas  Branch, 
Philip  Munger,  Asa  Kent,  Peter  Jayne,  Samuel 
Merwin,  Martin  Ruter,  Oliver  Beale,  &c.,  several  of 
whom,  with  Mr.  Hedding,  had  been  transferred  from 
the  New- York  Conference. 

The  session  of  the  Kew-England  Conference  com- 
menced at  Lynn,  July  12,  1805.  Bishop  Asbury  pre- 
sided, and  about  forty  preachers  were  present.  "  The 
records  of  this  session  afford  abundant  evidence  of 
the  continued  vigilance  of  the  conference  over  its 
members.  The  notices  appended  to  the  names  wliich 
passed  under  review  are  remarkable  for  their  brevity, 
but  also  for  their  explicit  frankness.  One  candidate 
is  pronounced,  'useful,  firm,  perhaps  obstinate,  con- 
tentious, well-meaning.'  Another  is  said  to  be  '  use- 
fal,  but  unguarded  in  some  expressions he  seems  to 
have  been  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  times,  for 
there  was  'some  objection  on  his  denial  of  visions 
and  spiritual  influences  by  dreams,'  though  he  'aver- 
red his  firm  belief  of  the  Scriptures  in  these  respects.' 
Another  is  said  to  be  '  unexceptionable,  useful,  and 
devout;'  another,  'pious,  unimproved,  impatient  of 
reproof,  not  acceptable,'  and  is  ordered  to  desist  from 
travelling.  True  Glidden  is  recorded  to  be '  sick — near 
to  death — ^happy.'  One  is  charged  gravely  for  mar- 
rying indiscreetly,  and  'suspended  one  year  from 
performing  the  functions  of  a  deacon;'  another  is 


130  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OE  HEUUING. 


[IbUu. 


pronounced  'weak  in  doctrine  and  discipline,  but 
as  a  preacher,  useful,  sincere,  pious.'  Lewis  Bates 
is  said  to  be  'plain,  good,  useful;'  Zalman  Lyon, 
'pious,  faithful,  but  of  small  improvement.'  D. 
Young,  'pious,  capable,  rough,  improving.'  Elijah 
"WiUard,  'faithful,  diligent.'  One  is  said  to  be  ac- 
ceptable, useful,  zealous — perhaps  indiscreetly  so — 
sincere,  ingenious;'  another  'pious,  useful,  weak.'"^ 
There  were  but  two  committees  appointed  at  the 
conference.  One  of  them  was  upon  finances;  and 
its  report  is  a  striking  commentary  upon  "  the  inade- 
quacy of  ministerial  support "  in  those  times.  The 
aggregate  deficiency  on  the  small  pittance  allowed 
the  preachers  was  §2,800 ;  and  the  collections  to 
supply  only  $373.  Soule's  deficiency  was  SlOT; 
Brodhead's,  891;  Willard's,  §56;  Washburn's,  $50; 
Bates's,  $45  ;  Hedding's,  $41 ;  Ostrander's,  $40 ;  and 
so  on,  some  more  and  some  less.  On  these  defi- 
ciencies appropriations  were  made,  in  sums  rang- 
ing from  thirty-five  dollars"  down  to  four  dollars,  ac- 
cording to  the  claims  of  each.  Mr.  Asbury  says: 
"We  had  a  full  conference,  preaching  at  five,  at 
eleven,  and  at  eight  o'clock.  Sitting  of  conference 
from  half-past  eight  o'clock  till  eleven  in  the  fore- 
noon ;  and  from  two  until  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
We  had  great  harmony,  and  order  and  strict  disci- 
phne  withal.   Sixteen  deacons  and  eight  elders  were 

^'  See  Memorials  of  Methodism  in  New-England.  To  these 
volumes  we  are  indebted  for  much  information  relating  to  this 
conference. 


1805.] 


THE   LYNN  CONFERENCE. 


131 


ordained."    Among  tlie  latter  was  the  subject  of  our 
memoir. 

The  public  exercises  of  the  conference  were  held  in 
a  pleasant  grove,  in  the  rear  of  where  the  parsonage 
of  the  Lynn  Common  Church  is  now  located.  Bishop 
Asbury  calls  it,  "a  beautiful,  sequestered  spot,  though 
near  the  meeting-house."    The  religious  exercises  of 
the  occasion  were  attended  with  extraordinary  power, 
and  produced  extraordinary  results.    The  Sabbath 
was  a  "  high  day."    The  people  came  in  from  all  the 
surrounding  country,  and  assembled  in  the  grove, 
hungering  for  the  word  of  life.    The  multitudes  bow- 
ed before  the  power  of  the  word  as  trees  before  a 
resistless  tempest,  and  "  the  slain  of  the  Lord  were 
many."    Li  all  these  exercises  Mr.  Hedding  took  an 
active  part.    "  The  excitement  was  so  great,"  says  he, 
"  that  many  cried  aloud  in  the  congregation.  One 
night,  after  I  had  been  in  meeting  praying  and  ex- 
horting until  midnight,  and  had  gone  to  my  lodgings 
and  retired  to  rest,  I  was  called  up  to  pray  again  for 
those  who  were  wrestling  with  the  Lord  for  i!iercy. 
There  was  great  opposition  to  the  work:  many  of 
'the  baser  sort'  came  from  Boston  and  Salem  to 
make  disturbance.    But,  notwithstanding  all  the  op- 
position, God  carried  on  his  work,  and  many  were 
converted  at  these  meetings  who  continued  steadfast 
in  the  gospel,  and  died  in  the  hope  of  a  better  resur- 
rection.   A  few  are  still  living,  after  a  lapse  of  almost 
fifty  years,  honouring  the  Lord  who  saved  them  at 

that  time."   The  author  of  the  Memorials  of  Meth- 

6* 


132  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1806. 


odism  says,  that  "  during  the  public  labom*s  of  this 
session,  great  displays  of  the  Spii-it  of  God  were  wit- 
nessed; scores  were  awakened,  some  fell  as  dead  men 
to  the  earth,  many  cried  aloud  with  anguish,  while 
others  wept  in  silence,  or  rejoiced  with  thanksgiving 
for  the  pardon  of  their  sins.  A  great  noise  went 
abroad,  and  himdi*eds  flocked  to  witness  the  scene: 
the  rabble  raged  and  made  thi-eatening  demonstra- 
tions ;  but  the  power  of  the  word  prevailed  against 
all  opposition."  It  was  altogether  a  remarkable 
season ;  and  both  preachers  and  members  were  bap- 
tized anew.  It  is  said  that  many  old  Methodists  in 
that  region  still  remember  the  remarkable  scene, 
and  call  it  up  in  their  recollection  as  the  gi'eat  day 
of  theii'  lives. 

Only  fifteen  yeai*s  had  elapsed  up  to  the  session  of 
this  conference  from  the  time  that  Jesse  Lee,  in  1790, 
first  took  his  stand  upon  a  table  beneath  the  shade  of 
a  gigantic  elm  in  the  centre  of  Boston  Common,  and 
commenced  his  fii*st  religious  service  in  the  region  in 
the  p^sence  of  four  persons.  From  small  beginnings 
and  by  the  most  gigantic  efi:brt  on  the  part  of  Lee 
and  his  coadjutors,  Methodism  had  continued  to 
move  forward  till  at  this  period  it  had  penetrated 
every  ]:^s'ew-England  state,  and  extended  east  into  the 
province  of  Maine  beyond  the  Penobscot  River. 
The  "  Xew-England  Conference,"  as  then  organized, 
embraced  all  these  states  except  the  western  portions 
of  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  and  Vermont.  It 
comprehended  five  districts,  forty-eight  stations  and 


1806.  J        OPPOBITION    IN   NEW-ENGLAND.  133 

circuits,  seventj-seveD  preachers,  and  eight  thousand 
five  hundred  and  forty  members. 

This  work  had  been  accomplished  in  the  face  of 
obstacles  and  opposition  that  would  have  appalled 
ordinary  men.  All  New-England  was  then  con- 
trolled by  an  ecclesiastical  organization  that  had 
commenced  with  the  Puritan  fathers,  and  was  com- 
pletely interwoven  with  all  the  traditions,  prejudices, 
and  habits  of  the  people.  Under  its  influence  society 
had  been  moulded;  and  nothing  could  be  more 
uncongenial  to  the  prevailing  spirit  of  the  times  than 
the  simple,  warm,  and  energetic  worship  of  the  Meth- 
odists. The  parish  pnlpits  were  closed  against  them ; 
and  they  were  denounced,  even  in  public  assemblies, 
as  "wolves  in  sheep's  clothing."  Sometimes  they 
found  access  to  court-houses,  dancing  halls,  and 
school-houses ;  and  here  they  were  often  left  to  warm 
and  light  the  rooms,  and  also  to  ring  the  bells,  or  use 
such  other  methods  as  they  could  to  get  the  people 
together.  The  ordinary  hospitalities  of  society  were 
often  denied  them;  they  were  hooted  at  in  the 
streets;  theii*  meetings  often  disturbed;  and  their 
lives  frequently  endangered.  Calvinism  has  ever 
been  the  sturdy  theologic  enemy  of  Methodism ;  and 
against  this  iron  system  the  Methodist  itinerants 
continually  levelled  their  heaviest  artillery.  They 
assailed  it  with  Scripture,  argument,  and  common 
sense ;  and  so  successfully  did  they  assault  this  strong- 
hold of  error  that  its  very  foundations  were  soon  dis- 
solved.   But  after  all,  the  great  secret  of  their  success 


13i 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1805. 


lay  in  their  powerful  ministry  of  the  gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God ;  appealing  directly  to  the  hearts  and 
consciences  of  the  people  for  an  immediate  settle- 
ment of  the  great  question  at  issne  between  them  and 
God.  By  this  powerful  ministry  of  the  word  they 
stormed  the  strongholds  of  Satan,  and  levelled  his 
defences  to  the  ground. 

At  the  close  of  this  conference  Mr.  Hedding  was 
appointed  to  the  Barre  Circuit,  in  Yermont.  This 
circuit  lay  nearly  in  the  middle  of  the  state,  and 
extended  over  thirteen  towns,  including  Montpelier, 
the  present  capital  of  the  state.  Mr.  Heddiiig  had 
for  his  colleague  the  Rev.  Dan  Young.  Of  him  he 
says:  "He  was  a  young  man  of  superior  talents,  and 
of  great  piety  and  zeal.  He  travelled  a  few  years, 
and  laboured  with  great  success  on  other  circuits 
afterward.  He  then  located,  and  lived  a  few  years 
in  New-Hampshire ;  and  then  became  a  member  of 
the  state  senate.  Afterward  he  removed  to  Ohio. 
We  labom*ed  together  with  great  comfort,  and  were 
happy  in  our  own  souls  in  the  love  of  God,  and  saw 
the  people  happy  under- our  ministry." 

The  hearts  of  these  young  men  were  knit  together 
like  those  of  David  and  Jonathan.  Tliey  entered  iuto 
a  mutual  agreement  to  aid  each  other  in  mental  and 
religious  improvement.  They  adj  usted  their  work  so 
that  once  a  fortnight  they  would  meet  in  the  middle 
of  the  circuit,  on  a  week  day,  and  preach  in  each 
other's  presence — one  in  the  afternoon  and  the  other 
in  the  evening.    "We  agreed,"  says  Mr.  Hedding, 


1805.] 


BAKKE  CIRCUIT. 


135 


"  to  tell  each  other  all  the  faults  we  discovered  in  om* 
preaching, — either  in  doctrine,  prominciation,  ges- 
ture, or  otherwise.  We  next  agreed  to  tell  each  other 
all  the  faults  we  discovered  in  private  life,  and  all  that 
we  feared  of  each  other  ;  and  then  we  agreed  to  tell 
all  we  heard,  and  all  the  people  said  of  each  other. 
This  mutual  agreement  was  the  source  of  much  profit 
to  us,  and  we  continued  to  practise  it  to  the  end  of 
the  year ;  nor  was  it  the  occasion  of  any  ill  feeling 
between  us."  ITothing  can  more  strikingly  attest  the 
desire  of  these  young  men  to  improve  themselves  in 
all  that  pertains  to  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed ;  nothing  can  more  finely  illustrate  the  con- 
fidence they  had  in  each  other,  and  the  mutual  affec- 
tion that  subsisted  between  them. 

Tlie  religious  condition  of  the  circuit  was  very 
encouraging  when  they  fii*st  entered  upon  their  work. 
A  faithful  labourer,  Oliver  Beale,  had  preceded  them ; 
but  especially  during  this  year  gracious  revivals  pre- 
vailed in  several  places  on  the  circuit.  Multitudes 
were  converted  to  God ;  and  it  is  said  that,  even  at 
the  present  day,  many  aged  saints  within  the  range 
of  that  circuit  still  cherish  the  name  of  Hedding  as 
the  messenger  of  Heaven,  by  whom  their  youthful 
feet  were  guided  into  the  path  of  life. 

In  a  few  instances,  during  the  year,  the  firmness 
and  skill  of  Mr.  Hedding,  in  the  administration  of  dis- 
cipline, were  severely  tested.  Exceedingly  kind  and 
forbearing  toward  the  penitent,  the  unfortunate,  and 
the  ignorant;  on  the  other  hand,  he  was  alike  de- 


136  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1805. 

cided  and  vigorous  toward  the  wilfully  stubborn  and 
wicked. 

A  singular  instance  in  the  way  of  discipline  occur- 
red during  the  year,  in  one  of  the  societies  in  the 
circuit.  It  had  relation  to  two  brothei's-in-law,  who 
were  also  connected  in  family  relation  with  nearly  all 
the  members  of  the  society.  A  dispute  concerning 
some  property  had  existed  between  them  for  a  long 
time  ;  and  not  only  continued  to  increase  in  violence, 
but  also  involved,  at  length,  most  of  the  members  of 
the  society.  Mr.  Hedding  collected  the  society  to- 
gether— some  thirty  or  forty  in  number — to  have  the 
dispute  between  them  settled.  Both  of  them  were 
fiery,  impulsive,  ungovernable  men.  The  object  of 
the  meeting  was  to  procure  an  amicable  and  broth- 
erly adjustment  of  the  long-pending  dispute,  or,  at 
least,  to  devise  some  method  of  settlement.  Mr. 
Hedding  sat  between  the  two  men,  and  the  wife  of 
each  sat  beside  her  husband.  They  began  to  talk 
over  the  subject  of  dispute,  when  one  of  them  sud- 
denly warmed  up  and  called  the  other  a  liar.  In- 
stantly both  started  to  their  feet,  and  rushed  at  each 
other;  the  females  screamed,  and  a  general  alarm 
ensued.  Mr.  Hedding  proved  himself  equal  to  the 
awkward  emergency.  He  rushed  between  them, 
seized  each  by  the  collar  of  his  coat ;  and  with  his 
herculean  frame  and  strength  held  them  at  arms' 
length,  face  to  face,  but  unable  to  strike  each  other. 
They  struggled  for  a  moment,  but  found  themselves  as 
though  clutched  in  the  jaws  of  a  vice.    Holding  them 


1805.] 


A   DIFFICULTY  SETTLED. 


137 


at  arms'  length,  he  commenced  to  lecture  them  in 
round  terms ;  he  shamed  them  about  the  meanness 
and  wickedness  of  the  act  their  unbridled  passions 
had  prompted  them  to  commit,  in  the  presence  of 
their  wives,  their  family  relations,  the  religious 
society  of  which  they  were  members,  their  pastor, 
and  especially  in  tl^  presence  of  God,  whose  servants 
they  professed  to  be.  He  told  them  of  the  scandal 
they  had  brought  upon  the  Church,  and  the  reproach 
cast  upon  the  cause  of  God,  by  the  course  they  had 
pursued  toward  each  other.  From  the  hearing  of 
this  entire  lecture  there  was  no  escape,  and  they 
writhed  under  its  withering  power.  After  they  had 
got  somewhat  calmed,  Mr.  Hedding  suddenly  ex- 
claimed, "  Let  us  pray !"  and  kneeled  down,  bringing 
the  two  men  with  him  to  their  knees  upon  the  floor. 
Still  retaining  his  grasp,  he  prayed  for  them  in  a  most 
fervent  and  powerful  manner.  When  he  had  closed, 
he  shook  the  one  he  held  by  his  right  hand,  saying, — 
"  Pray,  brother,  pray !"  Soon  he  commenced  pray- 
ing and  weeping,  confessing  his  sins,  and  beseeching 
God  and  his  brother  to  forgive  him.  When  the  first 
had  closed,  Mr.  Hedding  shook  the  other,  and  called 
upon  him  to  pray.  He  was  the  most  pugnacious  of 
the  two ;  and  it  was  hard  work  for  him  to  clear  his 
throat  so  as  to  give  utterance  to  words.  "  A  thousand 
frogs  seemed  clogging  his  speech but  he  at  length 
broke  through  his  difficulty,  and  earnestly  prayed  God 
and  his  brother  to  forgive  him.  When  he  said 
''Amen'^''  Mr.  Hedding  relinquished  his  grasp,  and 


138  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1805. 

they  all  rose  to  tlieir  feet,  "l^ovr,  shake  hands, 
brethren,"  said  he ;  "  and  live  as  brethren,  and  love 
each  other  as  long  as  you  live."  They  immediately 
embraced  each  other,  and  almost  as  quickly  settled 
their  dispute  ;  the  only  difficulty  seemed  to  be  in  their 
effort  to  see  which  should  concede  most  to  his  brother. 
The  difficulty  was  effectually  setjjed.  The  two  men 
ever  after  lived  on  the  best  terms  of  fraternal  and 
Christian  fellowship. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  peculiar  difficulties 
in  the  way  of  Methodism  in  the  ISTew-England  states. 
The  obstacles  opposed  to  its  progress  in  Vermont 
were  perhaps  scarcely  rivalled  by  those  of  any  other 
state.  Keferring  to  this  period,  the  author  of  Me- 
morials of  Methodism  says:  "Every  means,  from 
perilous  rencounters  to  petty  artifices,  were  used  to 
retard  their  progress;  and  when  it  was  found  im- 
possible not  to  tolerate  them,  it  was,  at  least,  deter- 
mined not  to  respect  them.  Their  opposers,  failing  to 
discourage  them  by  menaces  and  mobs,  often  resorted 
to  annoyances  and  ludicrous  grievances,  which  might 
tend  to  make  them  a  public  jest.  Asa  Kent  mentions 
numerous  instances  illustrative  of  this.  One  of  these, 
as  illustrative  of  the  times,  we  will  put  upon  rec- 
ord. An  important  officer  of  Hhe  standing  order' 
in  that  day  was  the  '  tithing-man^^  who,  ai*med  with 
a  long  rod,  at  once  weapon  and  staff  of  office,  pre- 
sided over  the  Sabbath  congregations,  with  full  power 
to  remind  unwary  hearers,  by  a  thrust  from  his 
wand,  of  any  undue  disposition  to  sleep,  or  other  in- 


1805.1 


A  TITHING-MAN. 


139 


discretion.    'In  one  of  the  towns,'  says  Mr.  Kent, 
'  the  population  was  sparse ;  but  they  had  the  shell 
of  a  meeting-house,  with  rough  boards  for  seats ;  and 
having  no  minister,  the  Methodists  were  invited  to 
occupy  it  on  the  Sabbath.    Tlieir  preachers  gave 
general  satisfaction,  except  that  some  of  them  spoke 
too  loud.    But  there  was  a  sore  grievance,  which 
called  for  a  speedy  remedy.    The  Methodists,  in  those 
days,  were  often  heard  to  respond  to  the  preacher 
by  an  audible  "Amen,"  and  at  other  times  to  ex- 
claim, "Glory  to  God !"  and  this  was  so  different  from 
the  "  still  small  voice,"  that  it  was  judged  by  some  to 
be  an  i/ntolerable  disorder.  While  some  were  devising 
a  remedy,  one,  more  wise  than  his  fellows,  intimated 
that,  if  he  should  be  appointed  "  tithing-man,"  he  would 
put  a  stop  to  such  confusion.    The  next  town-meeting 
appointed  him  to  that  office.    He  pledged  his  oath  for 
his  fidelity,  and  then  requested  the  magistrate  to  give 
him  definite  instruction  how  to  proceed.  "Why," 
said  the  squire,  "  it  is  your  duty  to  keep  the  people 
still  in  time  of  religious  worship."    "  But  what  if  they 
will  not  be  still  ?"  inquired  the  young  officer.    "  Tlien 
have  your  staff,  and  rap  them  on  the  head."  This 
was  satisfactory,  and  he  prepared  his  staff,  which  was 
the  badge  of  his  power.    These  staves  were  some- 
times six  or  seven  feet  in  length,  that  the  officer 
might  reach  the  offender  without  leaving  his  place. 
As  there  were  no  pews,  the  men  sat  together  on 
one  side  of  the  meeting-house  and  the  women  on 
the  other.    Sabbath  came,  and  the  newly-appointed 


140 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


LI  805. 


tithing-man  walked  in,  staff  in  hand,  and  took  his 
seat  in  the  midst  of  the  brethren.  This  was  an  event- 
ful hour.  Like  modem  office-seekers^  he  had  come 
"pledged"  to  office,  and  was  about  to  make  his  d^but 
under  the  scrutinizing  eyes  of  his  constituents.  To  add 
to  his  calamity  it  was  quarterly-meeting,  and  the 
members  were  in  the  habit,  in  those  days,  of  travel- 
ling a  great  distance  on  such  occasions.  Bostwick 
was  the  presiding  elder,  himself  a  host  when  the  God 
of  Sabaoth  was  in  his  message ;  and  I  think  Joseph 
Mitchell  was  the  circuit  preacher.  When  prayei 
was  offered,  all  the  Methodists  fell  upon  their  knees ; 
but  our  young  officer  stood  up,  staff  in  hand,  to  sup- 
press all  disorder.  A  brother  said  "Amen,'  and  was 
instantly  rapped  on  the  head.  Another,  and  then 
another,  said  "Amen ;"  and  each  felt  the  rap.  There 
was  a  shower  of  salvation  before  the  preacher  closed 
his  prayer,  and  some  shouted  "Glory,"  and  others 
"  Amen,"  but  each,  in  his  turn,  felt  the  rap ;  and  to 
do  his  duty,  the  tithing-man  sometimes  reached  as 
far  as  he  could  to  the  right,  then  as  far  as  he  could  to 
the  left ;  for  they  were  kneeling  around  him  so  closely 
that  he  could  not  move.  He  had,  in  fact,  as  much 
as  he  could  do  to  punish  those  within  his  reach,  leav- 
ing those  beyond  to  transgress  with  impunity.  This 
exhibition  was  fine  sport  to  a  certain  class  of  the  con- 
gregation, while  our  members  seemed  to  care  nothing 
about  it.  But  during  the  preaching  our  lover  of  or- 
der had  new  difficulties  to  contend  with.  When  they 
had  kneeled,  with  their  eyes  closed,  he  stood  and  wielded 


1805.]       BABJRE   AND    VEKSHIRE   CIRCUITS.  141 

his  authority  with  great  adroitness;  but  now  he  is 
seated  with  them,  and  even  his  love  of  order  is  not 
.  sufficient  to  induce  him  to  stand  and  rap  the  heads 
*  of  the  disorderly.  But  when  a  faithful  officer  cannot 
do  all  that  he  would,  he  will  not  readily  yield  the 
point  until  he  has  done  what  he  could.  The  "  tith- 
ing-man"  accordingly  fixed  his  eye  upon  one  of  the 
most  disorderly^  and  determined  to  bring  him  to  a 
better  mind.  The  brother  was  a  man  of  an  ardent 
spirit  and  a  warm  heart ;  and  although  he  had  crossed 
the  Hne  of  the  "  Old  Bay  State,"  he  never  dreamed 
that  the  Vermont  statute  prohibited  shouting,  and 
of  course  felt  himself  perfectly  at  home  among  his 
brethren.  He  sat  upon  the  seat  before  our  officer, 
and  about  the  length  of  his  rod  from  him,  the  end  of 
which  he  placed  under  his  side ;  and  whenever  the 
brother  shouted,  he  would  give  him  a  jerk  under  his 
short  ribs.  This  could  be  done  without  exposing  him- 
self to  the  congregation  generally.  The  power  of 
God  was  present  to  quicken  and  to  sanctify  his  chil- 
dren, and  great  was  their  rejoicing.  The  poor  brother 
selected  as  the  victim  of  the  "  tithing-man,"  altogether 
unconscious  of  his  august  presence,  sat  gazing  at  the 
preacher,  the  tears  flowing  fi-om  his  eyes,  and  often 
gave  vent  to  an  overflowing  heart  by  shouts  of 
"  Glory;"  while  omy  friend  of  order  gave  him  a  faith- 
ful jerk  for  each  transgression.' 

"This  ludicrous  persecution  continued  some  time 
to  the  amusement  of  the  lookers-on,  and  the  annoy- 
ance, doubtless,  of  the  worshippers.    But  the  latter. 


142  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1806. 

not  comprehending  it,  took  the  most  effectual  means 
of  rebuking  it.  They  prayed  directly  in  behalf 
of  the  '  tithing-man.'  The  supplications  of  a  Meth- 
odist prayer-meeting  were  perilous  to  the  gain- 
sayers.  The  'tithing-man'  was  foiled;  he  retreated 
from  his  office ;  the  jests  of  his  associates  were  turned 
upon  him,  and  he  appeared  no  more,  with  his  staff 
of  office,  to  compel  the  Methodists  to  keep  the 
peace."^ 

The  session  of  the  New-England  Conference  for 
1806,  commenced  in  the  town  of  Canaan,  1^.  H., 
June  11th.  This  place  was  included  in  the  Han- 
over Circuit,  which  had  been  previously  travelled 
by  Mr.  Hedding.  Bishop  Asbury — the  untiring 
apostle  of  Methodism — ^having  completed  over  five 
thousand  miles'  travel  in  little  over  a  year,  reached 
the  seat  of  the  conference  the  day  before  it  opened, 
and  presided  over  its  deliberations.  The  most  mem- 
orable thing  that  transpired  at  the  conference  was 
a  sermon  preached  by  the  bishop  on  the  Sabbath. 
The  word  of  the  Lord  was  like  a  two-edged  sword 
to  the  hearers.  Both  preachers  and  jDeople  shouted 
aloud  for  joy  as  they  felt  its  power.  Some  were 
awakened  and  converted  during  the  session  of  the  con 
ference ;  and  in  many  respects  it  was  a  refreshing  time. 
Mr.  Asbury,  however,  says  of  it :  "  We  went  through 
our  business  in  haste  and  peace,  sitting  seven  hours 
a  day.  We  did  not,  to  my  grief,  tell  our  experiences, 
nor  make  observations  as  to  what  we  had  known  of 

*  Memorials  of  Methodism,  Second  Series,  p.  271. 


1806.1        BABEE   AND    VEESHIRE   CIECFITS.  143 


the  work  of  God;  the  members  were  impatient  to 
be  gone,  particularly  the  married  townsmen." 

In  those  early  times  the  preachers  were  almost 
universally — especially  the  unmarried  men — moved 
yearly.  Continuance  the  second  year  on  the  same 
circuit  was  the  exception,  and  not  the  rule,  as  usage 
has  made  it  in  the  present  day.  Accordingly,  at  the 
close  of  this  conference,  Mr.  Hedding  was  removed 
from  Barre  to  Yershire  Circuit,  which  was  also  in 
the  State  of  Yermont.  This  circuit  was  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  state,  stretching  along  on  the 
banks  of  the  Connecticut  River,  and  embracing  ten 
towns.  He  was  without  a  colleague,  and  the  work 
was  so  arranged  that  he  was  to  pass  through  these 
towns,  and  preach  from  one  to  three  times  daily  within 
the  limits  of  each  every  two  weeks.  Thus  he  was 
almost  incessantly  engaged  either  in  preaching,  or 
in  the  pastoral  work — hunting  up  his  scattered  flock 
in  their  homes,  and  instmcting  and  encouraging  them 
and  their  families  in  the  path  of  well-doing. 

Prudence  and  discretion,  combined  with  decision 
and  energy,  were  prominent  traits  in  Mr.  Hedding's 
character.  In  the  most  sudden  and  trying  emergen- 
cies, these  rarely  failed  to  carry  him  safely  through. 
This  year  he  was  subjected  to  a  peculiar  trial.  Ohio, 
with  its  mild  and  genial  climate,  its  luxuriant  soil  and 
its  inexhaustible  "bottoms,"  its  ample  and  inviting 
hunting-grounds,  and  its  opportunities  for  wild  and 
daring  adventure,  was  then  just  opening  to  the  people. 
The  fever  for  emigration  raged  through  all  the  Eastern 


144  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1806. 

States,  but  especially  in  Yermont ;  and  hundreds  were 
leaving  their  homes  in  the  east  to  make  their  abode 
in  this  new  El  Dorado  of  the  west.  Under  this 
excitement,  Mr.  Hedding  lost  nearly  every  official 
member  of  the  Church  upon  the  entire  circuit,  and 
that  too  nearly  at  the  same  time.  Indeed,  of  all  the 
official  body,  only  one  leader  remained.  This  was  a 
serious  embarrassment.  They  were  the  men  who 
had  sustained  the  religious  meetings,  transacted  the 
business  of  the  circuit,  and  provided  homes  for  the 
preachers.  Painfully  trying  as  were  his  circumstan- 
ces, he  pushed  forward  the  work,  nothing  daunted. 
Xew  places  of  entertainment  were  thrown  open  to 
him  in  every  town ;  the  best  men  were  sought  out, 
and  their  services  enlisted  as  stewards  and  leaders; 
the  classes  were  reorganized,  and  soon  the  whole  cir- 
cuit was  in  working  order.  The  dark  cloud  that  hung 
so  heavily  over  it  passed  away,  and  a  clear  sky,  with  a 
bright  and  shining  sim,  appeared.  JS'otwithstanding 
the  great  losses  of  the  circuit  by  emigration,  a  year 
of  considerable  prosperity  was  enjoyed. 

In  most  parts  of  ISTew-England,  at  this  early  day, 
the  inhabitants  were  decidedly  Puritanic.  They  were 
generally  enterprising  and  economical  in  their  habits, 
strict  in  their  moral  conduct,  somewhat  intelligent, 
and  always  inquisitive  ;  and  in  religious  faith — except 
where  Universalism  or  Unitarianism  had  developed 
itself — rigid  and  imyielding  Calvinists.  Universalism 
and  Unitarianism — the  natural  results  of  the  reaction 
from  the  repulsive  features  of  high-toned,  though  hon- 


1806.]  DOCTRINAL   CONTROVERSIES.  145 

honest  Calvinism — ^had  sprung  up  in  their  midst. 
Methodism  was  from  without ;  it  came  not  by  stealth, 
but  in  the  open  day ;  singlehanded,  and  alone,  it  open- 
ly assaulted  Calvinism  in  its  stronghold,  and  unques- 
tionably proved  the  great  moral  antidote  to  the 
two  principal  forms  of  scepticism  then  developing 
everywhere  among  the  people  of  i^ew-England,  and 
poisoning  all  the  well-springs  of  her  theology.  Most 
of  the  Congregational  clergy,  especially  in  the  coun- 
try parishes,  were  of  the  ultra  Calvinistic  or  Hopkin- 
sian  school ;  and  they  not  only  received  the  doctrines 
of  this  school,  but  they  preached  them  openly,  every- 
where, and  without  palliation  or  disguise.  'No  "  sugar 
coat "  had  then  been  devised  to  conceal  the  nauseous 
taste  of  the  pill. 

Of  course,  wherever  Methodism  went  the  two  sys- 
tems were  brought  into  direct  conflict,  and  the  way 
was  opened  to  the  most  exciting  discussions  upon  the 
subject.  It  was  quite  a  common  thing,  after  the  Meth- 
odist minister  had  finished  his  sermon,  and  before  the 
congregation  had  retired,  for  the  settled  minister, 
or  a  deacon,  or  some  wordy,  self-confident  zealot  for 
the  faith  of  the  fathers,  to  assail  some  doctrine  of  the 
preacher,  or  some  supposed  doctrine  of  Methodism,  as 
heretical  and  pernicious.  It  was  often  the  case  that 
such  adventurers  engaged  in  the  enterprise  before 
they  had  counted  the  cost.  Most  of  these  early 
Methodist  preachers  were  naturally  very  shrewd 
men,  and  their  natural  parts  had  been  rendered  still 
more  acute  and  ready  from  constant  exercise.  Tliey, 


146  LIFE    AXD   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1806. 

too,  were  thorouglilj  posted  up  in  all  the  peculiarities 
of  Calvinisni, — knew  its  salient  points,  were  com- 
pletely posted  up  as  to  all  its  logical  consequences, 
were  familiar  with  all  the  Scripture  passages  that  were 
the  strongholds  of  its  reliance,  and  also  with  all  the 
Scripture  and  logical  stumbling-blocks  of  the  system. 
In  fact,  this  was  a  sort  of  forensic  gladiatoi*ship,  in 
which  the  Methodist  minister,  from  the  very  necessi- 
ties of  his  work,  was  almost  daily  exercised.  Unac- 
customed to  such  contests,  and  relying  upon  the  pre- 
sumed ignorance  of  their  antagonists,  the  men  who 
assailed  them  rushed  blindly  into  the  conflict,  and 
generally  left  the  field  only  after  suffering  a  most 
inglorious  defeat.  These  discussions,  when  public, 
not  unfrequently  contributed  largely  to  the  advance- 
ment of  Methodism. 

Mr.  Hedding,  being  possessed  of  great  logical  acute- 
ness,  a  ready  command  of  language,  and  thorough 
and  ready  knowledge  of  the  phases  of  the  whole  con 
troversy,  was  well  armed  for  any  emergency  in  this 
line.  One  day,  in  the  midst  of  a  snow-storm,  while 
riding  through  one  of  the  towns  in  his  circuit,  he  fell 
in  with  a  stranger  travelhng  in  the  same  direction. 
They  had  a  short  but  interesting  conversation  on 
indifferent  subjects.  Mr.  Hedding  soon  learned  that 
his  travelling  companion  was  the  settled  clergyman 
of  the  town, — settled  by  vote  of  the  town  and  paid 
from  its  treasmy, — and  also  that  he  was  dignified  with 
the  title  of  D.  D.  Before  they  parted,  the  clergy- 
man obtained  from  Mr.  Hedding  a  promise  to  pay 


1806.1 


ONSET   WITH   A   D.  D. 


147 


him  a  visit  at  his  earliest  convenience.  Accordingly, 
Mr.  Hedding,  two  weeks  later,  taking  a  friend,  a 
layman,  with  him,  called  upon  the  clergyman.  The 
first  salutation  of  the  clergyman  was:  "Well,  Mr. 
Hedding,  I  suppose  you  have  come  to  discuss  ques- 
tions at  issue  between  us,  have  you  ?"  Mr.  Hedding 
replied,  "I  have  come,  on  your  invitation,  to  pay 
you  a  short  visit,  and  am  willing  to  converse  with 
you  upon  any  subject  most  agreeable  to  yourself." 
" Yery  well,"  said  the  doctor;  "we  will  take^ dinner 
first,  and  then  we  will  go  into  the  study  and  try  the 
matter  out."  Accordingly,  after  dinner,  the  old  man 
called  his  divinity  students — of  whom  there  were 
several  under  his  private  tuition — along  with  his  guests 
into  the  parlour,  and  soon  after  began  to  question  Mr. 
Hedding  about  the  doctrines  believed  and  taught  by 
the  Methodists.  In  a  few  words,  Mr.  H.  gave  him  a  for- 
mal statement  of  them.  The  suavity  of  the  old  man's 
spirit  and  manner  seemed  to  abate  very  much  during 
the  statement ;  and  no  sooner  had  Mr.  H.  concluded, 
than,  with  a  frowning  brow  and  dogmatic  manner, — as 
though  his  dictum  was  the  end  of  the  law, — the  old 
man  denounced  these  doctrines  as  fatally  heretical  and 
terribly  pernicious,  and  closed  by  saying,  "These  were 
the  doctrines  of  John  Wesley,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he 
is  now  in  hell  for  teaching  such  abominable  heresy." 

Mr.  Hedding  took  the  matter  very  coolly,  and  in 
turn  questioned  the  doctor  with  reference  to  the  doc- 
trines he  believed  and  taught.  The  doctor,  with  not 
a  little  precision  and  formahty,  explained  the  whole 


148  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1806. 

system  of  Hopkinsianism,  and  declared  it  to  be  his 
creed,  and  also  most  consonant  with  both  reason  and 
Scripture. 

Mr.  Hedding  then  said, — • 

"  It  appears  that  yon  believe  God  decrees  and  wills 
everything  that  comes  to  pass — even  all  the  wicked 
conduct  of  sinful  men." 

The  doctor  admitted  it  was  so. 

"  But,"  says  Mr.  Hedding,  "  God  forbids  that  sinful 
conduct.  He  says,  '  Thou  shalt  not  steal,'  &c.  How 
do  you  make  God's  will  and  commands  agi-ee  ?  or,  if 
he  wills  one  thing  and  cmnmancls  another,  is  not  God 
divided  against  himself?" 

The  doctor,  who  was  now  fairly  placed  upon  the 
defensive,  replied, — 

"We  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  will  of  God. 
All  we  have  to  do  with,  is  his  commands.  "We  are 
bound  to  keep  his  commands,  though  he  may  have 
willed  to  the  contrary.  And  it  is  perfectly  just  in 
him,  under  all  and  any  circumstances,  to  punish  us 
for  disobedience  to  known  commands." 

In  a  similar  manner  they  continued  their  conversa- 
tion and  arguments  until  sunset.  Finding  that  he 
had  a  man  to  cope  with, — a  man  weU  read  in  theol- 
ogy, thoroughly  versed  in  all  the  tactics  of  polemic 
theology,  and,  withal,  of  great  self-command  both  as 
to  his  spirit  and  language, — the  doctor  repressed  the 
dogmatism  that  appeared  at  the  outset,  and  treated 
him  with  marked  respect  throughout  the  subsequent 
stages  of  their  controversy. 


1806.] 


ONSET   WITH   A   D.  D. 


149 


The  following  colloquy  closed  the  discussion : — 

Mr.  Hedding  asked,  "  Will  all  of  God's  elect  finally 
be  saved?" 

The  doctor  answered,  "  Yes." 

Mt,  H.  Will  any  others  be  saved  besides  God's 
elect? 

Br.  .  ISTo. 

Mr,  H.  Will  all  the  elect  be  converted  and  par- 
doned while  they  remain  in  this  world  % 
Dr,  .  Yes. 

Mr.  H.  Are  all  of  the  elect  convinced,  before  they 
are  pardoned,  that  they  are  sinners,  and  in  the  way 
to  hell? 

Dr.  .  Yes. 

Mr.  H.  Does  the  Holy  Ghost  convince  them  that 
they  are  in  danger  of  going  to  hell  ? 
Dr.  .  Yes. 

Mr.  H.    Does  the  Holy  Ghost  always  teach 
truth? 
Dr.  .  Yes. 

Mr.  H.  Kow,  sir,  let  me  put  your  answers 
together,  and  see  how  they  will  read.  You  have 
said  all  the  elect  will  be  saved ;  none  of  them  can 
possibly  be  lost ;  also,  that  while  they  are  in  this 
world,  they  are  convinced  they  are  in  danger  of 
going  to  hell.  Now,  how  can  they  be  in  danger  of 
going  to  hell,  if  God  has  decreed  they  shall  be  saved, 
and  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  be  lost  ? 

Dr.  .  O,  while  they  are  under  conviction  they 

think  they  are  in  danger  ;  but  it  is  not  so  in  fact. 


150  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1806, 


Mr.  H.  Hold!  You  told  me  the  Holy  Ghost 
teaches  them,  and  that  the  Holy  Ghost  always  teaches 
truth." 

Dr.  .  "Well,  after  all,  they  are  in  danger. 

Mr.  H.  Stop !  You  told  me  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  be  lost ;  and  how  can  a  man  be  in  danger  of 
an  impossibihty  ? 

Dr.  .  A  man  may  be  in  danger  of  impossibili- 
ties sometimes. 

Mr.  H.  Very  well ;  you  believe  that  a  man  may 
be  in  danger  of  falling  up  to  the  clouds.  Good-by, 
sir." 

The  two  men  parted  very  cordially,  notwithstand- 
ing the  sharp  controversy  they  had  carried  on  in 
relation  to  their  respective  creeds.  The  old  man  was 
evidently  deeply  and  favourably  impressed ;  and  a  few 
years  after,  when  he  became  more  acquainted  with 
Methodist  doctrines  and  usages,  his  views  and  feelings 
toward  them  were  greatly  changed.  He  often  in- 
vited the  Methodist  preachers  to  preach  in  his  pul- 
pit, and  as  often  preached  in  theirs.  Thus  a  mutual 
good  understanding  and  cordial  Christian  fellowship 
subsisted  between  them. 

But  while  the  noble  band  of  Methodist  pioneers 
were  thus  wielding  the  polemic  battle-axe,  they  did 
not  cease  to  imitate  their  Lord  and  Master  in  his  efforts 
to  seek  and  save  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel. 
They  went  from  house  to  house ;  went  into  the  new 
and  sparse  settlements;  visited  the  log-cabins,  and 
made  personal  application  of  their  message  to  the 


1806.]         TOUR   OF   A   YOUNG   ITINERANT.  151 

higli  and  low,  rich  and  poor.  About  this  period 
the  Kev.  Ebenezer  F.  Newhall,  then  a  young  man, 
and  not  yet  entered  upon  the  regular  work,  made  a 
tour  on  foot  through  parts  of  Yermont,  and  extended 
his  travels  beyond  the  line  into  Canada.  His  soul 
was  stirred  within  him  as  he  witnessed  the  moral 
and  religious  destitution  of  the  people,  and  he  com- 
menced exhorting  them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come.  "  Often  I  rested  my  weary  limbs,"  said  he, 
"by  sitting  down  and  reading  in  my  Bible,  and 
kneeling  in  prayer.  Soon  I  came  to  a  small  opening 
— found  a  log  hut — stopped — talked,  read,  sung,  and 
prayed  with  them ;  and  then  inquired  if  there  was  a 
house  two  or  three  miles  ahead  where  I  could  stop 
over  night  and  hold  a  meeting,  and  was  informed 
that  there  probably  was.  So  on  I  went,  calling  on 
every  family  and  praying  with  them:  all  seemed 
glad  to  see  me,  and  promised  to  follow  on  to  the 
meeting.  As  I  came  to  the  third  opening  I  called  at 
the  first  log  hut,  and  found  it  inhabited  by  a  very 
poor  woman.  I  invited  her  to  go  to  the  meeting. 
She  said,  '  I  have  no  clothes  but  these  that  I  have  on, 
and  they  are  not  suitable  for  such  a  place.'  I  replied, 
*  Do  n't  stop  for  that;  just  wash  you  clean  and  go: 
God  may  meet  you  there,  and  wash  away  all  your 
sins,  and  clothe  you  with  salvation.'  ^  But  I  have  no 
shoes,'  she  continued.  *  No  matter ;  God  may  put  on 
your  feet  the  gospel  shoes.'  '  Then  I  have  no  bon- 
net.' '  "Well,  God  can  put  on  your  head  a  crown  of 
life.'    *  Neither  have  I  any  cloak.'    '  Dear  woman,' 


152  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF-HEDDING.  [1806. 


said  I,  '  make  no  more  excuses ;  throw  a  sheet  over 
your  shoulders,  and  if  you  find  Jesus,  as  you  may, 
you  will  not  be  sorry  you  went,  even  if  you  should 
go  ragged  and  barefoot,  since  it  is  the  best  your 
poverty  allows.'  I  then  passed  on  to  the  next  house. 
With  cheerful  looks  they  welcomed  me  to  the  hos- 
pitaHties  of  their  house,  sent  notice  of  the  meet- 
ing the  other  way,  and  thanked  me  for  inviting  the 
people  as  I  came  along.  They  soon  assembled  jfrom 
several  miles  around ;  and  the  poor  woman  was  among 
them,  with  rags  sewed  on  her  feet,  a  sheet  doubled 
and  flung  over  her  head,  and  her  children  by  her  side. 
How  easy  it  was  to  talk  to  a  people  hungry  for  the 
bread  of  life !  My  soul  was  happy,  and  praised  God. 
In  the  morning  I  passed  on  in  my  journey  through 
the  woods,  feeling  that  God  was  my  support  and 
comfort.  I  tarried  a  few  weeks — ^held  some  meetings. 
The  Lord  moved  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and 
many  were  brought  to  rejoice  in  God."  Such  were 
the  agencies  by  which  Methodism  was  spread,  and  the 
souls  of  men,  in  the  waste  and  destitute  places,  sought 
out  and  saved  in  this  early  day.  Such  were  the 
agencies  by  which,  especially  in  New-England,  in- 
fidelity and  its  kindred  heresies  received  a  stern 
and  formidable  check,  while  the  spirit  of  genial  and 
vital  godliness  was  revived  among  the  people. 

If  the  agencies  for  the  spread  of  the  work  were 
peculiarly  marked  as  agencies  of  God's  own  raising 
up,  many  of  the  conversions  were  not  less  strikingly 
marked  with  evidences  of  its  being  his  own  peculiar 


1806.]  A   REMARKABLE    CONVERSION.  153 

work.  The  first  Methodist  preachers  that  visited  Lan- 
caster, IS".  H.j  having  been  expelled  from  the  village 
bj  a  mob,  Joseph  Crawford  resolved  to  visit  the  place, 
and  preach  in  defiance  of  opposition.  Under  his  first 
sermon  there  a  Mrs.  Bishop  was  powerftdly  awakened. 
"Her  emotions  were  so  great  as  to  overpower  her 
physical  strength.  Her  husband  procured  imme- 
diately a  physician  and  nurse,  and  her  symptoms 
were  medically  treated  for  some  time.  But  her 
agitation  increased.  Her  neighbours  were  greatly 
interested,  as  she  was  highly  esteemed  among  them ; 
but  neither  friendly  sympathy  nor  medical  skill 
availed  anything,  for  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty 
had  sunk  deep  into  her  soul.  Some  days  after,  as 
she  was  pleading  for  mercy,  the  Lord  set  her  soul  at 
liberty,  and  she  shouted  his  praise  with  the  voice  of 
triumph.  Her  nurse  was  startled  at  first,  but  soon 
exclaimed,  '  Why,  Mrs.  Bishop,  I  now  know  what 
has  ailed  you  all  this  time !  You  have  been  under 
conviction !  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing !'  The 
Lord  healed  both  soul  and  body ;  and  such  were  the 
overflowings  of  her  grateful  heart,  that  she  was  ready 
to  say  with  one  of  old, '  Come  and  hear,  all  ye  that  fear 
the  Lord,  and  I  will  tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for 
my  soul.'  This  singular  sickness  and  strange  cure 
induced  numbers  to  call  and  satisfy  themselves,  and 
she  rejoiced  to  tell  them  of  redeeming  gi*ace  and 
dying  love.""^  Tlie  husband  of  this  woman  subse- 
quently became  converted.    For  a  number  of  years 

*  Memorials  of  Methodism, 


154  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1806. 


their  house  was  the  "  preaching  place,"  and  also  the 
"home"  for  the  itinerant.  Still  later,  her  husband 
was  called  into  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  and  his  wife 
was  a  noble  help  to  him  in  the  work.  Says  an  old 
preacher*  of  her:  "Mrs.  Bishop  was  one  of  the  most 
powerful  female  exhorters  I  ever  heard.  There  was 
a  chastened  modesty  in  her  manner,  with  a  pleasant 
voice  and  affectionate  address,  by  which  she  found 
access  to  the  hearts  of  stubborn  gainsayers."  After 
travelling  a  few  years  her  husband  located ;  but  they 
lived  many  years  to  illustrate  the  grace  of  God  which 
so  powerfully  brought  salvation  to  their  house. 

These  and  similar  cases,  scattered  along  the  early 
Methodistic  history,  sufficiently  illustrate  the  spirit 
and  agencies  of  that  great  revival  of  experimental  and 
practical  godliness,  to  which  we  find  the  subject  of 
our  memoir  consecrating  the  warmest  affections  of 
his  heart  and  the  holiest  energies  of  his  nature.  That 
consecration  was  complete.  He  lived  only  to  preach 
Christ  Jesus,  and  him  crucified.  For  this  he  endured 
privation  and  want,  sacrificed  ease  and  home,  trav- 
ersed mountains  and  forests  ;  and  yet  counted  it  all 
joy  if  so  be  that  he  might  win  souls  to  Christ. 

We  have  now  traced  his  progress  through  the  first 
six  years  of  his  itinerant  life,  while  he  traversed 
the  immense  circuits  of  early  Methodism  in  new 
fields  of  labour.  We  must  now  prepare  to  trace  his 
course  in  a  new  sphere,  and,  if  possible,  one  of  higher 
responsibiHties,  and,  in  some  respects,  of  severer  toil. 
^  Rev.  Asa  Kent. 


1807.] 


NEW-HAMPSHIEE  DI8TKI0T. 


155 


CHAPTEK  Y. 

MR.  HEDDING  ON  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 

First  Conference  in  New-England — Jesse  Lee's  Mission  to  the  Eastern  States 

—  His  First  Auxiliaries  —  Results  up  to  tlie  Fifteenth  Anniversary  —  Ses- 
sion of  the  Conference  for  1807  —  Mr.  Hedding  appointed  to  New-Hamp- 
shire District  —  Charles  Virgin  —  One  of  his  Preachers  won  over  to  Calvin- 
ism —  Effort  to  save  him  —  Temporary  Success  —  Finally  secedes  —  Cause 
of  Withdrawals  —  Inadequacy  of  Support  —  Enormous  Proportion  of  Loca- 
tions — Causes  of  Inadequacy  of  Support  —  Preachers  partly  chargeable  — 
Influence  of  the  same  Causes  at  the  Present  Day  —  Deficiencies  in  the 
New-Hampshire  District  —  Mr.  Hedding's  Receipts  —  His  Conflicts  of 
Mind  —  Finds  an  Associate  of  his  Youth — A  Temptation  overcome  — 
A  Singular  Charge  preferred  against  him  at  Conference  —  The  Dispo- 
sition made  of  it — Results  to  the  person  preferring  it  —  Session  of  the 
Conference  for  180S  —  Returned  to  New-Hampshire  District  —  Elected  a 
Delegate  to  the  General  Conference  —  Session  of  the  General  Conference  — 
Question  of  a  Delegated  General  Conference  —  Failure  of  the  Plan  by  the 
Opposition  of  the  Middle  Conferences  —  Excitement  and  Dissatisfaction 

—  Mr.  Hedding's  Labours  to  prevent  a  Rupture  —  The  Subject  recon- 
sidered—  The  Plan  adopted  —  Dr.  Bangs' s  Remarks  upon  it  —  Proposed 
Increase  of  the  Number  of  Bishops  — Conference  determines  to  elect 
one  only  —  M'Kendree  elected  and  ordained  —  Close  of  the  Conference — 
Mr.  Hedding  returns  to  his  District  —  Jesse  Lee  revisits  New-England — 
His  Remarks  on  Pews  —  His  Character  drawn  by  Rev.  A.  Stevens  —  An 
Admirable  Pioneer —  His  First  Labours  —  Present  Condition  of  the  Work 

—  A  Triumphal  Tour  — The  Parting  Pledge. 

The  first  conference  in  ISTew-England  was  held  at 
Lynn  in  1792,  when  Bishop  Asbury  said  of  the 
place,  "  We  have  the  outside  of  a  house  completed 
and  of  the  conference,  "  It  consisted  of  eight  persons, 
much  miited,  besides  myself."  Not  a  single  mem- 
ber of  that  conference  was  a  native  of  New-Eng- 
land. Jesse  Lee,  the  great  apostle  of  Methodism 
in  the  East,  was  a  native  of  Yirginia,  and  his  atten- 


156  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  U807. 

tion  had  first  been  directed  to  the  New-England 
states  while  travelling  with  Bishop  Asbiiry  in  South 
Carolina.  Here  he  fell  in  with  a  clerk,  who  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  and  from  whom  he  learned 
much  concerning  the  general  character,  the  social 
and  religious  condition  of  the  people  in  the  Eastern 
States.  From  that  moment  his  soul  burned  with 
inextinguishable  ardour  to  carry  the  blessings  of  the 
gospel  to  them ;  nor  was  he  satisfied  till  he  opened 
his  mission  in  i^'ew-England  by  the  first  sermon  he 
preached  in  ]N'orwalk,  Connecticut,  on  the  lYth  of 
June,  1789.  IS'early  a  year  later,  when  at  Dantown, 
in  Connecticut,  he  received  the  joyful  intelligence 
that  three  preachers  w^ere  on  their  way  to  join  him. 
"  I  was  greatly  pleased  at  the  report,"  says  he,  "  and 
my  heart  seemed  to  reply,  '  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  When  I  saw  them  riding 
up,  I  stood  and  looked  at  them,  and  could  say  from 
my  heart,  '  Thou  hast  well  done  that  thou  art  come.' 
Brother  Jacob  Brush,  an  elder,  and  George  Koberts 
and  Daniel  Smith,  two  young  men,  came  from  Mary- 
land to  assist  me  in  this  part  of  the  world.  'No  one 
knows,  but  God  and  myself,  what  comfort  and  joy 
I  felt  at  their  arrival.  Surely  the  Lord  has  had  re- 
spect unto  my  prayers  and  granted  my  request." 
Within  the  next  two  years  new  auxiliaries  were  sent 
into  the  field,  and  some  already  there  were  with- 
drawn and  sent  to  other  parts. 

Who  the  eight  were  of  whom  Mr.  Asbury  speaks  as 
composing  the  first  Kew-England  Conference,  we  can- 


1807.]  THE    FIFTEENTH    ANNIVERSARY.  157 

not  noTv  fully  determine.  Onlj^^  appear  upon  the 
Minutes,  so  that  they  can  positively  be  identified 
in  this  connexion.  Their  names  are  Jesse  Lee, 
Menzies  Rainor,  Jeremiah  Causden,  John  Allen,  and 
Lemuel  Smith.  On  the  Hartford  Circuit,  however, 
Tve  find  the  names  of  Hope  Hull,  G.  Eoberts,  and 
F.  Aldridge  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  these  men  were 
present  at  the  Xew-England  Conference,  though  their 
circuit  appears  in  connexion  with  the  Long  Island 
District,  of  which  Jacob  Brush  was  then  elder. 
Daniel  Smith,  after  blazing  for  a  little  time  with 
a  glorious  and  useful  light  in  Kew-England,  had 
returned  to  the  South.  The  membership  of  the 
Lynn  District,  which  then  embraced  all  Kew-Eng- 
land,  not  subsequently  included  in  the  ISTew-York 
Conference,  was  only  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven. 

As  the  fifteenth  anniversary  approaches,  we  feel 
inclined  to  survey  the  general  field  once  more.  Xor 
can  we  withhold  the  exclamation, — "What  hath  God 
wrouglit !"  The  little  company  of  evangelists  had 
grown  up  from  five  to  eighty,  and  the  membership 
from  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  to  eight  thousand 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five.  Listead  of  one  dis- 
trict with  fmr  circuits,  the  conference  now  made  an 
exhibit  of  six  districts  with  fifty-eight  circuits.  La- 
stead  of  being  dependent  upon  missionaries  from 
'other  parts  of  the  work,  there  had  been  already 
raised  up  within  its  bounds  such  men  as  Joshua 
Soule,  Timothy  Merritt,  Epaphras  Kibby,  Daniel 
Webb,  and  othei*s  well  known  in  the  Church.  Tlie 


158  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1807. 

conference  was  a  tower  of  intellectual  and  moral 
strength, — united,  compact,  energetic, — rejoicing  in 
past  successes,  and  confidently  trusting  in  God  for 
the  future. 

The  session  of  the  conference  for  1807  was  held 
in  Boston.  Bishop  Asbury  was  present,  and  pre- 
sided. Bishop  Whatcoat  died  in  the  previous  July, 
and  on  Bishop  Asbury  again  devolved  "  the  care  of 
all  the  Churches."  It  was  necessary  to  despatch 
business.  "  It  kept  us  busy,"  says  Mr.  Asbury,  "  to 
preach  five  times  a  day,  ordain  fifty-nine  to  ofiice, 
and  inquire  and  examine  into  characters,  graces,  and 
gifts,  and  appoint  the  numerous  stations.  I  preached 
on  Wednesday,  and  an  ordination  sermon  on  Thurs- 
day. And  I  must  walk  through  the  seven  confer- 
ences, and  travel  six  thousand  miles  in  ten  months." 
Nothing  of  special  interest  occurred  at  this  session  of 
the  conference,  only  it  appears  to  have  been  a  session 
of  great  harmony  and  good  feeling;  and  no  sooner 
were  the  appointments  announced,  than  the  noble 
band  were  seen  wending  their  way  to  their  various 
fields  of  labour. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  this  year  made  presiding  elder, 
and  appointed  to  the  Kew-Hampshire  District.  Tlie 
arrangement  for  the  district  was  as  follows:  New- 
Hajmpshtre  District — Elijah  Hedding^  P.  E.  Gran- 
tham, Warren  Bannister,  Charles  Virgin ;  Hanover, 
Dan  Young;  Bridgewater,  Joseph  Farrar;  Pem- 
broke, Hezekiah  Field;  Tuftonborough,  Joseph  Peck, 
Eben.  Blake ;  Northfield,  Zacliariah  Gibson ;  Centre 


1807.]  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 


159 


Harbour,  Paul  DusUn ;  Landaff,  Dyer  Burge ;  Lu- 
nenburg, Jobn  Green.  It  will  be  perceived  by  the 
above  tbat  there  were  but  two  ordained  elders  upon 
the  entire  district  besides  himself.  Four  were  dea- 
cons, namely,  Dan  Young,  Warren  Bannister,  Joseph 
Farrar,  and  Hezekiah  Field.  One,  namely,  John 
Green,  was  in  the  second  year  of  his  ministry ;  and 
the  remaining  four  had  just  been  admitted  on  trial, 
and  now  entered  upon  their  first  appointments. 

The  health  of  John  Green  failed,  so  that  he  could 
not  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  charge ;  and  to  meet 
the  emergency,  the  elder  found  it  necessary  to  remove 
Charles  Virgin,  and  place  him  in  charge  of  the  cir- 
cuit. This  was  a  responsible  charge  for  a  yoimg  and 
inexperienced  man.  Tlie  circuit  was  principally  in 
the  northern  part  of  Vermont,  but  extended  many 
miles  into  Canada.  It  was  one  hundred  miles  distant 
from  his  first  appointment.  "The  conflict  of  my 
spirit,"  says  this  young  man,  referring  to  his  feelings 
when  he  received  his  new  appointment,  "for  a  while 
was  indescribable;  but  I  had  put  my  hand  to  the 
plough,  and  dared  not  look  back.  To  take  charge  of  a 
circuit  I  could  not  think  of  but  with  great  trembling. 
I  had  just  performed  a  journey  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles,  and  my  funds  were  nearly  out.  I  had 
promised  to  put  up  that  night  at  Deacon  San- 
born's, of  precious  memory,  in  Unity.  It  was  a 
sleepless  night ;  I  prayed  and  wept,  wept  and  prayed, 
until  the  dawn  of  day.  After  breakfast  and  family 
prayer,  I  mounted  my  horse  to  go.    In  the  family 


160  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1807. 

were  three  cliildi-en,  holy  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Chiirch — one  son  and  t^vo  daughters. 
They  stood  on  the  door-steps.  As  I  came  to  the 
first,  who  was  the  son,  and  took  his  hand  to  bid  him 
farewell,  he  put  a  silyer  dollar  into  my  hand;  the 
second  gaye  me  another,  and  the  next  a  thii'd.  I  was 
too  much  affected  to  speak.  I  tiu-ned  away  and  got 
out  of  hearing  as  soon  as  possible,  and  then  wept 
profusely,  and,  praying  God  to  forgiye  me,  resolyed 
neyer  again  to  disti'ust  my  heayenly  Father." 

Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  trayel  and  amount  of 
labour  to  be  performed  upon  this  district  may  be 
gathered  from  the  fact  that  it  embraced  the  whole 
state,  except  Portsmouth  and  its  immediate  yicinity 
and  also  some  half-dozen  towns  in  the  south-western 
part  of  the  state.  It  also  embraced  a  portion  of  the 
State  of  Vermont.  The  circuits  were  all  yery  exten- 
siye,  and  there  was  not  a  single  station  in  the  whole 
district.  To  complete  his  rounds  during  the  year  re- 
quired a  trayel  of  not  less  than  three  thousand  miles. 
At  each  quarterly  meeting  he  preached  twice,  and 
generally  three  times,  besides  presiding  in  the  quar- 
terly conferences,  conducting  the  loye-feasts,  and 
often  labouring  in  the  prayer-meetings.  In  addition 
to  all  this,  he  had  his  appointments  scattered  all  along 
his  route  from  one  quarterly  meeting  to  another ;  so 
that  he  often  preached  eyery  eyening  in  the  week, 
except  Saturday,  for  three  months  together. 

His  old  rheumatic  affection,  with  which  he  had 
been  so  terribly  afflicted  in  1803,  returned  upon  him 


1807.1 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 


161 


during  this  year,  and  caused  not  a  little  suffering. 
For  whole  nights  he  would  be  unable  to  lie  down  in 
his  bed  or  to  sleep  ;  but,  as  he  was  somewhat  relieved 
during  the  day,  these  afflictions  were  not  permitted  to 
interfere  with  his  labours.  The  preachers  associated 
with  him  were  principally  unmarried  men;  they 
were  young  in  years  and  young  in  the  ministry,  of 
but  little  experience,  and  also,  for  the  most  part,  of 
small  literary  acquirements.  All  these  circumstances 
greatly  increased  his  responsibiHty,  and  his  solicitude 
for  the  success  of  the  work  in  their  hands.  He  says : 
"  Some  of  them  were  men  of  excellent  natural  talents, 
and  all  of  them  were  capable  of  preaching  religious 
truth  to  the  edification  and  benefit  of  the  people. 
They  were  men,  too,  of  deep  piety  and  great  zeal, 
and  they  laboured  with  all  their  power  to  advance 
the  work  of  God ;  and  the  Lord  gave  his  sanction  to 
their  labours,  and  great  numbers  throughout  the  dis- 
trict were  awakened  and  converted." 

During  this  year,  one  of  his  preachers — a  young 
and  somewhat  unstable  man,  but  of  good  talents  and 
promise — was  led  to  embrace  Calvinism,  and  with- 
drew from  the  Church  in  order  to  become  a  Congre- 
gational minister.  His  determination  to  such  a  course 
had  been  somewhat  suddenly  formed,  and  his  elder 
was  entirely  unapprized  of  it.  But  in  passing  aroimd 
his  district  he  fell  in  with  the  young  man,  and  learned 
that  he  had  been  spending  a  day  with  his  brother, 
who  was  a  Calvinistic  minister.  After  some  conver- 
sation, the  young  man  began  to  intimate  his  dissent 


162  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1807. 

from  the  doctrines  he  had  received,  and  which  were 
preached  among  the  Methodists ;  and  also  his  incli- 
nation to  believe  that  he  had  been  in  error  in  reject- 
ing the  cardinal  points  of  the  Calvinistic  theology. 
Mr.  Hedding  at  once  perceived  the  true  cause  of  the 
difficulty,  and  upon  interrogation  found  that  his 
brother  had  had  a  twofold  agency  in  unsettling  his 
mind:  first,  being  a  man  of  great  shrewdness  and 
logical  acumen,  he  had  argued  with  the  young  man 
until  he  had  become  at  least  bewildered ;  and  then 
he  had  plied  him  with  an  ad  liominem  argument,  by 
comparing  his  forlorn  condition  and  worldly  prospects 
in  the  Methodist  itinerancy  with  the  comfort  and 
respectability  within  his  reach  as  a  settled  pastor. 
Tlie  young  man  evidently  wished  to  do  right,  or  at 
least  to  have  such  reason  for  his  change  of  doc- 
trinal views  and  Church  relation  as  might  satisfy  his 
own  conscience ;  but  it  was  evident  that  he  had  not 
the  moral  firmness  to  withstand  the  temptation. 
Still  Mr.  Hedding  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  converse 
with  him,  and  save  him  if  he  could ;  and  still  the 
more  so,  as  the  young  man  professed  to  be  desirous 
of  light.  As  they  were  to  spend  the  day  together, 
he  proposed  that  they  should  talk  over  the  celebrated 
"  five  points,"  and  weigh  them  candidly  in  the  hght  of 
Scripture  and  reason.  To  this  the  young  man  readily 
assented;  and  when  they  had  discussed  the  matter 
till  night — carefully  examining  every  text  that  had  a 
bearing  on  either  side,  and  every  argument  drawn 
from  the  character  of  God  and  the  principles  of  jus- 


1807.1  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 


163 


tice  and  truth,  and  also  the  various  logical  results  of 
the  Calvinistic  theory — the  young  man  acknowledged 
himself  to  be  convinced  that  Calvinism  was  founded 
inerror,  and  could  be  supported  by  neither  reason  nor 
Scripture.  He  now  proposed  to  return  to  his  circuit, 
and  labour  with  renewed  confidence  and  zeal  in  the 
proclamation  of  the  truth.  Over  him,  however,  Mr. 
Hedding  rejoiced  with  trembling ;  for  he  discovered 
that  with  all  his  fine  talents,  and  even  his  piety,  he 
was  not  made  of  that  stem  stuff  so  essential,  amid 
the  rigours  of  the  Methodist  itinerancy,  to  enable 
him  to  withstand  the  powerful  temptations  to  other 
positions  offering  higher  worldly  honour,  greater 
ease,  and  more  adequate  pecuniary  compensation. 
The  sequel  proved  the  well-grounded  nature  of  Mr. 
Hedding's  apprehensions,  and  also  illustrated  his  great 
insight  into  human  character;  for  in  three  months 
the  friends  of  the  young  man  had  converted  him 
back  to  Calvinism.  At  the  conference  his  name  was 
recorded  as  "withdrawn"  in  the  Minutes;  and  he  sub- 
sequently became  a  Congregational  minister. 

It  would  be  a  very  uncharitable  insinuation,  to  inti- 
mate that  the  great  body  of  those  who  have  with- 
drawn from  the  Methodist  ministry  during  her  his- 
tory have  been  actuated  solely,  or  even  mainly,  by 
pecuniary  considerations.  But,  unquestionably,  the 
Church  has  suffered  immensely  from  the  inadequacy 
of  the  support  given  to  her  ministry.  Many  of  the 
noblest  heralds  of  the  cross  in  her  early  history, 
after  a  few  years'  service,  were  compelled  by  the 


164  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  L1807. 

necessity  of  their  families  to  retire  from  the  regular 
work.  Dm-ing  the  fii'st  fifty  years,  more  than  one- 
half  of  all  who  entered  the  Methodist  ministry  sooner 
or  later  located ;  and  many  of  those  who  died  in  the 
work  were  compelled,  at  some  time  during  their  min- 
istry, to  locate  and  make  provision  for  their  families. 
This  inadequacy  resulted  in  part  from  the  new  state 
of  the  country  and  the  societies,  as  also  from  the 
poverty  of  the  people.  Another  cause  is  to  be  found 
at  the  door  of  the  preachers  themselves ;  they  often 
made  it  a  matter  of  public  boasting  that  they  asked 
no  salaries — sought  not  the  money  of  the  people,  but 
the  people  themselves;  and  all  this  was  done  in  a 
way  that  gave  the  peoj^le  to  understand  that  the 
Methodist  religion  was  "  a  cheap  religion" — was  to 
cost  the  people  but  very  little.  Thus  they  not  only 
failed  to  teach  the  people  the  Chiistian  duty  of  giv- 
ing, so  far  as  they  were  able,  a  competent  support  to 
those  who  were  called  to  preach  the  gospel  to  them, 
and  who  were  to  "live  by  the  gospel,"  but  many  of 
them,  by  unguarded  speeches,  indirectly  encouraged 
a  spirit  that  would  make  beggars  of  ministers  and 
paupers  of  their  families.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say, 
that  that  political  and  spiritual  error  of  the  fathers 
has  been  entailed,  in  many  of  its  consequences,  upon 
their  children.  "  The  fathers  have  eaten  sour  grapes, 
and  the  children's  teeth  are  set  on  edge."  At  the 
present  day,  the  influence  of  this  evil  in  the  Church — 
the  inadequate  support  of  the  ministry — is  mani- 
fested not  so  much  in  the  number  of  locations,  as  in 


1807.] 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 


165 


its  prevention  of  many,  who  are  called  of  God  and 
who  are  not  without  gifts  and  graces,  from  entering 
into  the  field,  where  there  is  so  little  inviting  to  a 
young  man  in  the  line  of  personal  comfort  or  family 
support.  Were  the  Churches  all  poor  and  unable  to 
do  better,  the  case  would  be  quite  different;  the 
responsibility  would  then  lie  wholly  upon  him  who, 
when  called  by  God,  refused  to  obey:  nor  do  we 
design  to  excuse  or  palliate  the  turning  aside  from 
the  ministry  on  the  part  of  any  individual  who  has 
been  called  by  God,  merely  on  account  of  the  poor 
prospect  of  needful  support.  It  is  safest  and  best  to 
do  our  duty  at  all  times  and  in  all  places.  We  only 
speak  of  facts  that  do  exist.  It  is  vain  to  deny  them ; 
it  is  unwise  to  close  our  eyes  against  them ;  and  it  is 
equally  absurd  to  attempt  to  dispose  of  them  alto- 
gether, by  attempting  to  minify  the  value — the 
piety  or  talents — of  these  young  men  who  are  thus 
deterred  from  entering  the  ministry.  It  is  an  evil 
that  requires  not  scorn,  but  cure.  And  then,  on  the 
other  hand,  we  are  to  avoid  with  equal  care  holding 
out  worldly  inducements — in  the  way  of  ease,  wealth, 
or  honour — to  the  ministry,  lest  the  Church  of  God 
become  cursed  with  selfish  and  worldly-minded  men 
in  this  ofiice,  to  which  the  great  motive  should  be 
the  love  of  God  and  of  the  souls  of  men. 

Perhaps  in  no  part  of  the  work  where  Methodism 
was  organized  was  the  support  so  inadequate  as 
within  the  bounds  of  Mr.  Hedding's  district.  The 
country  was  new,  and  mountainous,  and  sterile ;  the 


166  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  L1807. 

work  was  new,  the  people  poor — many  of  them  very 
poor  indeed.  It  will  seem  almost  incredible,  and  yet 
such  is  the  fact,  Mr.  Hedding's  receipts  dm-ing  his 
first  year  upon  this  district,  besides  his  simple  travel- 
ling expeness,  which  made  bnt  an  inconsiderable  sum, 
were  $4  25 !  His  horse  broke  down  through  exces- 
sive labour  during  the  year ;  clothing,  books,  and  other 
little  necessaries,  all  were  to  be  provided  for  out  of 
this  four  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents!  While  we 
cannot  wonder  that  many  of  the  noblest  and  purest 
spirits  in  the  Methodistic  reformation  were  compelled 
to  retire  from  the  itinerant  work,  that  they  might  be 
able  to  provide  for  their  children,  we  are  filled  with 
admiration  that  even  the  single  men,  with  no  families 
to  provide  for,  were  not  disheartened.  At  times  Mr. 
Hedding's  mind  was  deeply  affected,  especially  as  he 
found  himself  cramped  and  straitened  almost  beyond 
endurance,  and  then  could  see  no  prospect  of  relief 
ahead.  One  passage  of  Scripture,  however,  was  ever 
present  with  him  in  these  times  of  mental  misgiving : 
"  To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me 
in  my  throne."  Cheered  and  comforted,  he  would  go 
forth  again  heartily  to  his  work.  And  as  he  went, 
his  lips  would  often  chime, — 

"No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess; 
No  cottage  in  this  wilderness : 

A  poor  wayfaring  man, 
I  lodge  awhile  in  tents  below, 
Or  gladly  wander  to  and  fro, 

Till  I  my  Canaan  gain." 


1807.]  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 


167 


An  incident,  by  which  his  mind  was  moment- 
arily affected,  he  thus  describes :  "  Having  heard  that 
an  old  associate  of  my  youth  resided  a  few  miles 
out  of  my  route  on  the  district,  I  went  to  see  him. 
I  found  him  in  good  health,  and  that  he  had  become 
quite  rich.  He  was  not  a  professed  Christian.  After 
taking  me  over  his  farm,  and  showing  me  all  his 
many  things  for  comfort  and  ease,  and  the  taste  and 
skill  with  which  he  had  enriched  and  beautified  the 
natural  resources  of  the  place,  he  said  to  me,  'I 
take  great  comfort  in  all  these,  and  also  in  thinking 
that  I  shall  leave  at  least  one  spot  on  the  earth 
better  than  I  found  it.'  At  first  the  contrast  between 
his  temporal  condition  and  my  own — the  ease  and 
affluence  in  which  he  lived,  and  my  own  toilsome 
and  poverty-stricken  sphere — especially  when  I  knew 
that  my  own  prospects  were  at  the  outset  as  good  at 
least  as  his,  produced  a  deep  depression  in  my  mind. 
But  it  was  only  for  a  moment.  Recurring  to  the  fact 
that  the  man  after  all  seemed  to  derive  his  happiness 
not  so  much  from  the  enjoyment  of  the  good  things 
of  life  that  surrounded  him,  as  from  the  idea  that  he 
would  leave  behind  him  a  cultivated  spot  where 
he  had  found  a  wilderness,  I  said  to  myself, — '  If  he 
finds  comfort  in  thinking  that  the  world  will  be  better 
for  his  having  lived  in  it,  how  much  greater  source 
of  happiness  have  I,  who  am  devoting  all  my  time 
and  energies  to  doing  good  in  the  world!'  This 
thought  had  no  sooner  passed  through  my  mind,  than 
the  rising  disquietude  of  my  heart  was  completely 


168  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1807. 

stilled;  my  soul  was  filled  with  consolation,  and  I 
•   was  ready  to  exclaim : — 

♦  'Tis  all  my  business  here  below 

To  cry — ^Behold  the  Lamb  ! 
Happy,  if  with  my  latest  breath 

I  may  but  gasp  his  name  ; 
Preach  him  to  all,  and  cry  in  death, 

Behold,  behold  the  Lamb ! ' 

The  only  formal  complaint  ever  entered  against 
Mr.  Hedding  at  conference  was  from  this  district, 
and  the  occasion  for  it  occurred  dm-ing  this  year. 
On  one  of  the  circuits  resided  a  certain  physician; 
he  was  a  man  of  good  talents  and  great  shrewdness, 
but  at  the  same  time  a  man  of  very  narrow  views, 
and  exceedingly  bigoted  in  his  character.  He  made 
a  formal  complaint  to  the  presiding  elder  against 
one  of  the  preachers  on  the  circuit,  and  demanded  a 
council  for  his  trial.  The  charge  was,  "  Superfluity 
of  ajpparel  f  and  the  specifications  were — "1.  The 
preacher  wore  silver  knee-buckles  in  his  small 
clothes ;  2.  The  preacher  allowed  his  wife  to  wear 
a  veil,"  which,  by  the  way,  was  a  mourning  veil, 
worn  on  account  of  the  death  of  some  relative. 
These  the  doctor  alleged  were  great  grievances  to 
himself,  his  wife,  and  many  others  of  the  Church ; 
and  also  a  great  scandal  to  the  cause  of  religion. 
Mr.  Hedding  plainly  told  him  that  these  were  small 
matters,  not  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  call  a  council 
to  try  a  preacher  for ;  and  all  that  he  could  do  would 
be  to  advise  the  preacher  to  cease  wearing  the  silver 


1808.]  NEW-HAMPSHIRE   DISTRICT.  169 

knee-buckles,  if  their  use  was  a  stumbling-block  to. 
any,  and  to  use  strings  in  their  place ;  and  also  to 
advise  the  preacher's  wife  to  laj  off  her  mourning 
veil  for  peace'  sake.  Mr.  Hedding  accordingly  gave 
the  advice  to  the  preacher  and  to  his  wife,  and  there 
rested  the  matter.  But  when  he  reached  conference, 
he  found  that  the  persistent  physician  had  forwarded 
a  bill  of  charges  against  him,  signed  by  himself  and 
wife,  and  accusing  him  of  refusing  to -administer  the 
Discipline  against  an  offending  preacher.  The  doc- 
tor's letter  was  read  to  the  conference,  when  they 
instantly  dismissed  it  as  unworthy  of  notice.  This, 
however,  was  not  the  end  of  the  case,  so  far  as  the 
stickler  against  silver  buckles  and  mourning  veils  was 
concerned.  The  society,  learning  that  he  had  for- 
warded such  charges,  were  indignant,  and  finding  that 
while,  like  many  others,  he  had  tithed  mint,  and  rue, 
and  cummin,  he  had  neglected  the  weightier  matters 
of  the  law, — wliile  he  had  been  zealous  against  knee- 
buckles  and  mourning  veils,  he  had  not  been  so  care- 
ful to  preserve  truth  and  righteousness,  but  had  act- 
ually uttered  falsehoods, — they  called  him  to  trial, 
found  him  guilty,  and  expelled  him  from  the  Church. 

The  session  of  the  ISTew-England  Conference  for 
1808  was  held  in  I^^ew-London,  and  commenced 
April  18th.  Bishop  Asbury  was  present  and  pre- 
sided. The  preachers  came  up  from  the  different 
parts  of  the  work,  bringing  the  glad  news  of  continued 
success  and  triumphs  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  They 
reported  a  membership  of  eight  thousand  eight  hun- 


170  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  L1808. 


dred  and  twenty-five,  and  a  gain  of  five  hundred. 

The  session  of  the  conference  was  harmonious,  and 
the  public  ministrations  were  attended  with  good 
results.  The  business  of  the  conference  had  to  be 
expedited  on  account  of  the  General  Conference, 
then  just  at  hand.  Bishop  Asbuiy  says  :  "  The  con- 
ference sat  till  Friday ;  we  wrought  in  great  haste, 
in  great  order,  and  in  peace,  through  a  great  deal  of 
business.  There  were  seventeen  deacons,  travelling 
and  local,  ordained ;  and  nine  elders  ordained  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  before  fifteen  hundred  or  two 
thousand  witnesses.  I  know  not  where  large  congre- 
gations are  so  orderly  as  in  the  Eastern  States.  There 
was  a  work  of  God  going  on  during  the  sitting  of  con- 
ference. The  General  Conference  hastened  our  break- 
ing up,  the  delegates  thereto  requesting  leave  to  go." 

Mr.  Hedding  was  returned  again  to  the  district, 
upon  which  the  appointments  were  as  follows : — 
[N'ew-Hampshike  District,  Elijah  Hedding^  P.  E. ; 
Grantham,  Caleb  Dustin^  Paul  Dustin  j  Hanover, 
David  Carr;  Bridgewater,  William  Hunt;  Pem- 
broke, Hezekiah  Field ;  Tuftonborough,  Lewis  Bates ; 
J^orthfield  and  Centre-Harbour,  Joseph  Peck ;  Lan- 
daff,  Zachariah  Gibson;  Lunenburg,  Ebenezer  Blake. 
This  year  there  were  three  elders  besides  himself  upon 
the  district ;  also  three  deacons ;  and  also  three  who 
were  in  the  second  year  of  their  ministry. 

The  Kew-England  Conference  at  its  session  elected 
seven  delegates  to  attend  the  ensuing  General  Con- 
ference.   They  also  passed  resolutions  in  favour  of 


1808.]  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DISTRICT. 


in 


making  the  General  Conference  a  delegated  body. 
The  delegates  elected  were  George  Pickering,  Joshua 
Sonle,  Elijah  R.  Sab  in,  Oliver  Beale,  Martin  Rnter, 
Elijah  Hedding,  and  Thomas  Branch. 

The  session  of  the  General  Conference  commenced 
May  1st,  in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  This  General  Con- 
ference having  some  of  the  fundamental  principles 
of  our  economy  to  settle,  its  session  was  of  no  ordi- 
nary importance,  and .  excited  no  ordinary  degree  of 
solicitude  throughout  the  entire  Church.  Up  to  this 
time  emry  ordained  elder  was  entitled  to  a  seat  in 
this  highest  council  in  the  Church.  There  were  now 
present  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  members,  dis- 
tributed among  the  seven  annual  conferences  as  fol- 
lows : — New- York  Conference,  nineteen ;  E'ew-Eng- 
land,  seven;  Western, eleven ;  South  Carolina,  eleven; 
Yirginia,  eighteen ;  Baltimore,  thirty-one ;  and  Phil- 
adelphia, thirty-two.  Bishop  Asbury  and  many  of  the 
preachers  had  become  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  a 
delegated  Conference.  The  reasons  were  obvious :  the 
great  extension  of  the  work  and  the  multiplication  of 
elders ;  the  difficulty,  loss  of  time,  and  great  expense 
attendant  upon  the  gathering  of  so  many  from  re- 
mote portions  of  the  work;  the  preponderance  that 
would  always  be  in  favour  of  the  central  annual 
conferences,  among  which  the  General  Conferences 
would  generally  be  held  ;*  the  practical  inutility  of 

"  This  was  strikingly  manifest  in  the  General  Conference  of  1804:, 
in  whicR  all  the  elders  were  entitled  to  a  seat.  The  conference 
representation,  accordingly,  was  as  follows : — 

Border  or  remote  conferences,  namely :  New-England  Conference, 

8 


172  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1808. 

gathering  so  large  a  body  of  men  to  transact  the  business 
of  the  Church,  when  it  could  be  done  as  well,  if  not 
better,  by  a  delegated  number ;  and,  finally,  the  neces- 
sity of  it  as  a  bond  of  union  among  the  annual  con- 
ferences. This  was,  in  fact,  the  great  question  of  the 
conference.  The  interest  of  the  Church  had  been 
thoroughly  awakened  upon  the  subject;  for  as  early 
as  1806  Bishop  Asbury  had  submitted  a  paper  to  the 
annual  conferences,  beginning  with  Baltimore,  rec- 
ommending a  called  session  of  a  General  Conference, 
or  convention,  of  seven  delegates  from  each  annual 
conference.  But  the  plan  failed  in  consequence  of 
the  non-concurrence  of  the  Yirginia  Conference. 

The  subject  was  brought  before  the  bod}^  by  a 
memorial  from  the  New-York  Conference,  and  refer- 
red to  a  committee  of  fourteen  from  each  annual  con- 
ference. The  committee  reported  in  favour  of  the 
memorialists ;  but  the  plan  of  a  delegated  conference 
proposed  by  them  was,  after  considerable  discussion, 
rejected  by  a  vote  of  fifty-seven  for,  and  sixty-five 
against  it.  The  remote  conferences  were  generally 
in  favour  of  it ;  but  the  central  ones,  such  as  Balti- 
more, Yirginia,  and  Philadelphia,  were  opposed  to 
it.  When  the  vote  announcing  the  failure  of  the 
plan  was  declared,  great  dissatisfaction  was  mani- 

four ;  Western  Conference,  three ;  South  Carolina  Conference,  five ; 
New- York  Conference,  twelve :  making,  from  four  conferences,  a 
total  df  twenty-four. 

Central  Conferences,  namely :  Baltimore  Conference,  twenty-nine ; 
Virginia  Conference,  seventeen  ;  Philadelphia  Conference,  forty-one : 
making,  from  three  central  conferences,  a  total  of  eighty-seven. 


1808.]  THE   GENERAL   CONFEEENCE.  173 

fested ;  and  fears  were  at  one  time  entertained,  that 
the  conference  would  break  up  without  establishing 
any  general  bond  of  union  among  the  widely-scattered 
portions  of  the  work.  Many  of  the  preachers  from 
the  remote  conferences  resolved  to  leave  immediately, 
and  return  home.  It  was  a  crisis  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Church,  then  in  the  infancy  of  its  organization. 
"Had  they  left  at  this  crisis,"  says  Mr.  Hedding,  "it 
would  probably  have  been  the  last  General  Conference 
ever  held."  All  the  members  from  the  IN'ew-England 
Conference,  except  himself,  were  making  arrange- 
ments to  depart.  In  this  emergency  he  entreated 
them  to  remain ;  and  declared  his  own  determina- 
tion to  remain  till  the  close  of  the  conference,  what- 
ever might  happen.  Mr.  Asbury  also  exerted  his 
influence,  and  detained  them ;  and  also  the  membei-s 
of  other  conferences  who  were  about  leaving.  The 
delegates  from  the  central  conferences  now  saw  the 
necessity  of  some  action,  if  they  would  preserve  the 
integrity  of  the  Church.  The  vote  was  reconsidered ; 
and  after  mature  deliberation,  and  considerable  de- 
bate, the  general  plan  of  a  delegated  General  Con- 
ference was  agi'eed  upon.  It  was  to  be  composed  of 
one  delegate  for  every  five  members  of  an  annual 
conference,  and  was  to  meet  quadrennially  on  the 
first  day  of  May.  A  constitution,  in  the  form  of 
restrictive  provisions,  by  which  its  actions  should  be 
regulated,  was  adopted.  This  plan  was  adopted  al- 
most unanimously,  and  thus  peace  and  harmony 
were  restored  to  the  body. 


174  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1808. 


Though  not  brought  before  the  body  in  so  prominent 
a  maimer  as  some  others,  yet  in  this  matter  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  proved  himself  to  be  a  wise  counsellor,  and  a  safe 
and  judicious  man.  He  exhibited  that  clear  insight, 
that  calm  spirit,  that  dispassionate  manner,  and  that 
sound  judgment  which  so  marked  his  character  in  sub- 
sequent years.  Mr.  Asbury  was  not  a  little  indebted  to 
him  for  the  influence  he  exerted  in  checking  the  action 
of  the  more  violent  spirits  on  that  exciting  occasion. 

In  relation  to  the  settlement  of  this  great  question, 
Dr.  Bangs,  in  his  History,  says :  "  Before  this,  each 
General  Conference  felt  itself  at  full  liberty,  not  being 
prohibited  by  any  standing  laws,  to  make  whatever 
alterations  it  might  see  fit,  or  to  introduce  any  new 
doctrine  or  item,  in  the  Discipline,  which  either  fancy, 
inclination,  discretion,  or  indiscretion  might  dictate. 
Under  this  state  of  things,  knowing  the  rage  of  man  for 
novelty,  and  witnessing  the  destructive  changes  which 
had  frequently  laid  waste  Churches,  by  removing  an- 
cient landmarks,  and  so  modifying  doctrines  and  usages 
as  to  suit  the  temper  of  the  times,  or  to  gratify  either  a 
corrupt  taste  or  a  perverse  disposition,  many  had  felt 
uneasy  apprehensions  for  the  safety  and  unity  of  the 
Church  and  the  stability  of  its  doctrines,  moral  dis- 
cipline, and  the  frame  of  its  government ;  and  none 
were  more  solicitous  on  this  subject  than  Bishop  As- 
bury, who  had  laboured  so  long,  with  an  assiduity 
equalled  by  few,  if  indeed  any,  and  sufi'ered  so  much 
for  the  propagation  and  establishing  of  these  important 
points.  He,  therefore,  greatly  desired,  before  he  should 


1808.1  THE   GENERAL   CONFEEENCE.  1Y5 


be  called  home,  to  see  them  fixed  upon  a  permanent 
foundation."  This  action  of  the  conference  was  re- 
ceived with  lively  satisfaction  by  both  ministers  and 
people  throughout  the  entii-e  connexion ;  and  the  ex- 
perience of  half  a  century  has  attested  its  wisdom, 
notwithstanding  the  modifications  and  infractions  that 
have  taken  place.  * 

Having  settled  this  fundamental  question  in  the 
economy  of  the  Church,  the  body  proceeded  to  the 
regular  routine  of  business.  Bishop  Whatcoat  had 
died ;  Dr.  Coke  was  still  in  Europe,  and  prpposed, 
with  the  consent  of  the  conference,  to  remain  there ; 
it  therefore  became  necessary  to  strengthen  the  epis- 
copacy by  the  election  of  a  new  bishop.  Indeed,  it 
was  proposed  to  elect  seven  bishops — one  for  each 
conference,  having  Bishop  Asbury  as  a  general  super- 
intendent ;  and  thus  either  do  away  with  the  presiding 
eldership  altogether,  or  at  least  to  greatly  modify  it. 
The  plan  was  ad^^ocated  by  some  of  the  ablest  men  on 
the  floor  of  the  conference;  but  was  finally  rejected 
by  a  strong  vote.  A  motion  to  elect  two  additional 
bishops  was  also  negatived;  and  the  conference 
finally  determined  upon  the  election  of  one.  The 
election  took  place  on  the  same  day ;  and  upon  count- 
ing the  ballots  it  was  found  that  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  votes  had  been  cast,  of  which  ninety-five 
were  for  William  M'Kendree,  who  was  therefore 
elected.  The  balance  of  the  votes  were  cast  for 
Ezekiel  Cooper  and  Jesse  Lee;  the  former,  accord- 
ing to  Bangs's  History,  having  twenty-eight  of  that 


176  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1808. 

number.  M'Kendree  was  a  member  of  the  Western 
Conference  at  the  time  of  his  election.  He  com- 
menced travelling  in  the  Yirginia  Conference  in 
1788 ;  and  from  that  time  forward,  bj  untmng 
devotion,  arduous  labours,  signal  successes,  and 
acknowledged  piety,  prudence,  and  zeal,  had  made 
himself  worthy*  of  such  distinguished  honour  and 
confidence  from  his  brethren.  On  the  ITth  of  May 
he  was  consecrated  by  Bishoj)  Asbuiy,  assisted  by 
Rev.  Messrs.  Freeborn  Garrettson,  Philip  Bruce, 
Jesse  X-ee,  and  Thomas  "Ware.  He  was  fifty-one 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  consecration,  and 
continued  to  serve  the  Church  with  eminent  ability 
in  the  episcopal  ofiice  for  nearly  twenty-seven  years ; 
when,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight,  "  he  fell 
asleep." 

Having  surmounted  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  a 
general  and  harmonious  organization,  the  subsequent 
doings  of  the  conference  were  characterized  by  great 
harmony  and  good  feeling.  And  in  this  spirit,  hav- 
ing accomplished  its  great  work,  it  adjourned  on  the 
26th  of  the  month.  This  settlement  afforded  unfeigned 
satisfaction  to  Bishop  Asbury :  his  hope  for  the  future 
of  the  Church  now  rested  in  abiding  confidence  ;  and 
he  lived  to  realize,  in  a  degree,  the  consummation  of 
his  hope  in  the  assembling  and  transactions  of  the 
General  Conference  of  1812. 

At  the  close  of  the  General  Conference,  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  immediately  returned,  to  resume  his  labours  upon 
the  Kew-Hampshire  District.    The  labom*s  of  the 


1808.] 


PEWED  CHURCHES. 


177 


year  were  much  the  same  as  those  of  the  preceding, — 
much  travel,  continual  preaching,  and  withal  refresh- 
ing showers  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  Tliere 
were  extensive  revivals  on  the  district,  and  many 
were  added  to  the  Church.  Mr.  Hedding,  through 
determined  effort,  greatly  improved  the  finances  of 
his  district,  and  secured  more  adequate  support  for  the 
preachers. 

Even  at  this  early  day,  it  was  found  necessary 
in  New-England  to  pew  the  principal  Methodist 
churches  that  were  erected ;  such  were  the  pre- 
vailing habits  and  tastes  of  the  people.  This  was 
somewhat  of  an  annoyance  to  Jesse  Lee,  who  re- 
turned this  year  to  survey  his  old  field  of  labour. 
He  says  of  the  church  in  Newport,  where  Samuel 
Merwin  was  stationed  that  year :  "  Tlie  house  has  a 
steeple,  with  a  pretty  large  bell ;  it  is  fitted  up  with 
large  square  pews,  so  that  a  part  of  the  people  sit 
with  their  faces,  and  others  with  their  backs  toward 
the  preacher ;  and  these  pews  are  sold  to  purchasei-s. 
Males  and  females  sit  together.  Is  not  this  a  violation 
of  Methodist  rules  ?"  A  few  days  after,  we  find  him 
in  Boston,  preaching  in  the  new  church,  then  lately 
erected  in  Bromfield-street.  He  says:  "This  new 
meeting-house  is  large  and  elegant;  I  think  eighty- 
four  by  sixty-four.  It  has  an  altar  round  the  pulpit, 
in  a  half  circle,  and  the  house  is  fixed  with  long  pews, 
of  a  circular  form,  to  be  uniform  with  the  altar.  The 
front  of  the  gallery  is  of  the  same  form.  It  looks  very 
handsome,  and  will  contain  an  abundance  of  people ; 


178  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1808. 

but  is  not  on  the  Methodist  plan,  for  the  pews  are  sold 
to  the  highest  bidder."  Travelhng  on  as  far  as  Ports- 
month,  he  preaches  in  another  "meeting-house,  fit- 
ted up  with  pews."  We  know  not  how  many  other 
churches  of  this  character  had  been  erected  within 
his  old  field  of  labour ;  but  it  is  evident  that  Meth- 
odism, in  the  short  time  that  had  elapsed  from  his 
departure  till  his  return  on  this  visit,  had  been 
acquiring  strength,  and  the  people  were  not  alto- 
gether inattentive  to  the  architecture  of  their 
churches,  plain  and  even  uncouth  as  some  of  those 
old  churches  appeared  in  subsequent  years,  when 
the  general  style  of  building,  and  especially  of 
church  architecture,  had  greatly  changed. 

We  have  already  had  frequent  occasion  to  allude  to 
the  pioneer  labours  of  Jesse  Lee  in  ^^'ew-England. 
The  great  Methodistic  movement  in  the  Eastern 
States,  in  which  Mr.  Hedding  had  now  become 
one  of  the  leading  spirits,  could  not  be  well  under- 
stood without  at  least  a  brief  survey  of  the  labours 
and  character  of  this  truly  apostolic  man.  For  this 
reason,  and  not  because  of  any  direct  personal  inti- 
macy, we  have  made  frequent  references  to  his 
travels  and  labours.  As  he  is  now  about  to  take  his 
final  leave  of  Kew-England,  it  is  fitting  that  his 
character  and  the  results  of  his  labours  should  be 
briefly  reviewed.  Says  the  author  of  the  Memorials 
of  Methodism,  speaking  of  Lee  at  this  point  in  his 
career :  "  We  cannot  take  our  final  leave  of  him 
without  lingering  a  few  moments  in  the  contempla- 


1808.]       '    JESSE   LEE   IN   NEW-ENGLAND.  179 


tion  of  his  rare  career.  He  is  tlie  great  man  wlio 
achieves  gi-eat  results  by  great  endeavours.  History 
will  accord  to  Lee  no  ordinary  share  of  such  fame. 
He  possessed  no  preeminent  intellectual  faculty. 
His  literary  attainments  were  not  above  mediocrity. 
His  only  publication — the  '  Short  History  of  the  Meth- 
odists' — though  invaluable  for  its  data,  makes  no 
pretensions  whatever,  except  to  industrious  research 
and  accuracy.  His.  opinions  on  great  ecclesiastical 
measm-es  would  not,  we  think,  entitle  him  to  the 
claim  of  superior  legislative  sagacity.  But,  with  a 
good  practical  judgment  for  ordinary  affairs,  consid- 
erable general  intelligence,  a  remarkably  simple  and 
pertinent  Saxon  style,  strong  sensibilities,  which  were 
easily  kindled  in  discourse,  and  a  rare  native  faculty 
of  wit,  he  combined  an  executive  energy  which  has 
few  parallels  in  our  history,  except  "Wesley,  Asbury, 
and,  it  may  be,  Garrettson.  •  This  energy  was  not 
impulsive;  it  was  singularly  cool  and  continuous. 
Its  calmness  was  its  most  intrinsic  and  valuable  trait. 
His  great  travels,  his  incessant  preaching,  the  imper- 
turbable persistence  with  which  he  brooked  opposi- 
tion and  all  obstacles,  continually  and  tranquilly 
repeating  his  endeavours  against  them  until  they 
disappeared — these  characteristics  distinguishing  a 
minister  of  thirty-three  years,  mark  him  as  no  ordi- 
nary man.  The  great  results  that  have  followed  his 
labours  will  always  entitle  him  to  the  reputation  of 
greatness.  His  agency  in  the  founding  of  Method- 
ism in  New-England  will  ever  place  him  among  the 


180  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1808. 


cMef  cliaractei's  in  tlie  ecclesiastical  history  of  those 
Eastern  States."  Mr.  Lee,  after  this  visit,  continued 
to  labour  in  the  south  some  eight  years,  where  he 
finished  his  long  and  eventful  career  in  the  joyfiil 
assurance  of  a  better  resurrection.  He  received  his 
regular  appointments  to  the  last  year  of  his  career, 
but  travelled  more  or  less  "  at  large."  To  the  very 
last  "he  was  characterized  by  the  same  unresting 
missionary  spirit  which  prompted  his.  earlier  labours." 
He  made  extensive  excursions  into  the  remote  parts 
of  the  south.  He  was  also  for  several  years  chap- 
lain to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States ;  and  before 
the  legislators  of  the  nation  it  is  said  that  ''he 
preached  with  the  same  simplicity  and  power  which 
attended  his  ministrations  in  the  frontier  wilderness, 
or  on  the  highway." 

From  this  outline  of  the  character  of  this  heroic 
man,  it  will  be  seen  h(»\r  admirably  adapted  he  must 
have  been,  in  the  prime  of  his  life,  to  pioneer  work. 
But,  without  doing  injustice  to  the  memory  of  Lee, 
we  think  the  necessity  of  a  different  class  of  men  will 
also  be  seen;  men  of  comprehensive  and  sagacious 
minds',  of  higher  legislative  and  judicial  capacities — 
such  as  were  Hedding,  Soule,  Pickering  and  others — 
in  order  that  the  organic  structure  of  the  rising 
Church  might  be  made  harmonious,  compact,  strong, 
and  lasting.  Nineteen  years  before  this  final  visit, 
Lee  had  entered  New-England  a  solitary  stranger: 
after  more  than  three  months'  travel  and  labour, 
the  first  class,  consisting  of  three  women,  had  been 


1808.] 


LEE'S  TEIUMPHAL  TOUR. 


181 


formed  at  Stratfield,  Conn.  Now,  on  his  return,  he 
joyfully  witnessed  the  spread  of  Methodism  over  all 
the  land. 

At  the  close  of  this  ecclesiastical  year,  this  scene 
of  his  former  labours  presented  an  array  of  one  an- 
nual conference,  six  presiding  elders'  districts,  fifty- 
seven  circuits  and  stations,  eighty-three  stationed 
preachei-s,  and  an  aggregate  membership  of  ten  thou- 
sand and  ninety-six;  No  wonder  that  this  last  tour 
of  Lee  through  New-England  was  a  sort  of  triumphal 
tour,  and  that  he  was  everywhere  hailed  by  both 
preachers  and  people  with  the  greatest  deKght.  At 
the  close  of  his  meetings  he  was  accustomed  to  give 
the  parting  hand  to  those  who  were  determined  to 
meet  him  in  the  better  land.  Multitudes  there 
pledged  themselves  to  him  and  to  their  God,  and 
among  them  were  hosts  of  the  unconverted;  and 
long  before  this  most  of  them  have,  together  with  the 
heaven-honoured  pioneer,  entered  into  rest. 


182  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1809. 


CHAPTEE  YI. 

llPt.  HEDDING   ON    NEW-LONDON  DISTRICT. 

Session  of  the  Conference  for  1809 — !Mr.  Hedding  appointed  to  the  Xew- 
London  District — Preachers  on  the  District — ^Its  Extent — Camp-meeting 
— First  one  on  the  District — Solicitude — Wonderful  Display  of  Divine 
Power — Five  Hundred  prostrate  on  the  Earth — Results — ]VIr.  Bedding's 
Marriage — Sketch  of  Miss  Lucy  Blish,  afterward  Mrs.  Hedding — Her 
Parents — Early  Education — Early  Eeligious  Impressions — Perplexed  by 
Calvinism — Visits  a  Sister  within  the  Bounds  of  Plattsburgh  Circuit — 
Hears  Methodist  Preaching — Is  converted  and  joins  the  Church — Returns 
Home — Her  Parents  converted — A  New  Society  raised  up — ISir.  Hedding's 
First  Acquaintance  with  her — Their  Marriage — Survives  him — Mr.  Hed- 
ding takes  up  his  Residence  in  Winchester,  N.  H. — Reviews  his  Pecuniary 
Profits  and  Losses  as  a  Single  Man — The  Session  of  the  Conference  at 
Winchester — How  provided  for — Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree — Re- 
turned to  the  District — Preachers  with  him — Removes  to  Ludlow,  Mass. — 
Attempt  to  warn  him  out  of  Town — Employed  by  the  Town  on  his  Vacant 
Sabbaths — Invited  by  the  Town  to  become  the  Settled  Pastor — Declines — 
Subsequent  Occasional  Thoughts — Mr.  Xewhall's  "  Rich  and  Refreshing 
Meditations"  when  forcing  his  Way  through  Snow-drifts — Horse  dis- 
abled— Travels  on  Foot — An  Attack  of  Rheumatism — Crippled  Condition 
— A  Wayside  Incident — A  Singular  Sweat — Unexpected  Restoration — 
Conference  approaching — Remarks  upon  his  Ten  Years'  Labour — Diffi- 
culties encountered  by  Methodism — Its  Great  Successes — Progress  of 
the  Work  on  the  District — Camp-meeting — Summation  at  the  Close  of 
the  Year. 

The  session  of  the  ISTew-England  Conference  for 
1809  commenced  on  the  15th  of  June,  and  was  held 
at  Monmonth,  Me.  Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree 
were  both  present.  A  camp-meeting  was  held 
during  the  time  of  the  conference,  in  a  grove  about 
one  mile  distant.  Many  of  the  preachers  devoted 
considerable  time  to  its  exercises;  a  great  revival 


1809.1 


NEW-LONDON  DISTRICT. 


183 


occurred,  and  many  were  converted  to  God.  Many- 
persons  from  a  distance  attended  it;  and  its  results 
extended  to  the  societies  throughout  all  that  region. 
Mr.  Hedding  was  an  active  participator  in  its  exer- 
cises, notwithstanding  his  duties  as  a  presiding  elder, 
in  the  conference  and  the  cabinet. 

From  this  conference  he  was  appointed  to  the  ISTew- 
London  District,  the  organization  of  which  was  as  fol- 
lows :  I^"ew-London  District — Elijah  Hedding^  P.  E. ; 
Tolland,  Benj.  P.  Hill^  William  Hinman ;  Ashburn- 
ham,  David  Carr,  Robert  Arnold;  IsTeedham,  Ben- 
jamin R.  Hoyt,  I^athan  Hill ;  Providence  and  Smith- 
field,  Greenleaf  R.  IvTorris,  Pliny  Brett ;  East  Green- 
wich, Theophilus  Smith;  Pomfret,  Isaac  Bonney, 
Samuel  Cutler;  ITew-London,  Elisha  Streeter,  John 
Lindsey.  It  will  be  perceived  that  there  were  upon 
this  entire  district  but  two  ordained  elders  besides 
Mr.  Hedding.  Three  others  were  ordained  deacons, 
namely,  Norris,  Brett,  and  Smith;  while  of  the  re- 
maining eight,  three  had  travelled  one  year,  namely, 
Bonney,  Hinman,  and  Cutler ;  and  five,  namely,  Hoyt, 
Hill,  Arnold,  Streeter,  and  Lindsey,  had  just  been 
admitted  on  trial.  No  less  than  ten  preachers  had 
located  at  this  conference ;  most  of  them  compelled  to 
it  from  the  necessity  of  providing  for  their  families ; 
and  it  was  thus  that  their  places  were  filled  with  new 
recruits. 

The  l^ew-London  District,  at  this  time,  embraced 
all  that  part  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  lying  east  of 
the  Connecticut  River,  and  all  that  part  of  Rhode 


184  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1809. 

Island  west  of  ISTarragansett  Bay,  including  Provi- 
dence ;  and  also  a  belt  across  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts, extending  from  the  Connecticut  Eiver  nearly  to 
Boston,  and  a  few  towns  in  the  south-western  part  of 
N'ew-Hampshire.  It  was  a  year  of  great  labour,  but 
also  of  great  success.  Many  of  the  circuits  were 
visited  with  glorious  revivals.  Every  circuit  except 
one  reported  a  good  increase  at  the  ensuing  annual 
conference. 

The  first  camp-meeting  ever  held  upon  the  dis- 
trict was  held  by  Mr.  Hedding  in  Hebron,  Conn., 
during  the  present  year.  It  was  a  new  thing  in  the 
country,  and  had  no  doubt  been  suggested  to  him 
by  what  he  had  witnessed  at  the  camp-meeting  in 
Monmouth  at  the  previous  session  of  the  conference. 
Camp-meetings  were  first  held  in  this  country  in  the 
State  of  Kentucky,  in  the  years  1801  and  1802,  during 
the  wonderful  revival  of  religion  that  pervaded  the 
Methodist  and  Presbyterian  Churches  in  that  region. 
In  a  few  years,  however,  they  became  quite  common 
among  the  Methodists  in  the  south  and  west.  In 
the  east  they  were  yet  a  novel  thing.  The  fame  of 
them,  however,  had  spread  everywhere;  and  when 
the  time  appointed  for  the  meeting  at  Hebron 
ai'rived,  the  people  flocked  in  from  aU  the^surround- 
ing  country.  Many  came  the  distance  of  fifty  or 
sixty  miles,  provisioned  for  the  week,  and  burning 
with  desire  to  see  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  Such  meet- 
ings were  not  then  conducted  with  as  much  system 
as  at  the  present  time.    There  were  at  least  fom*  ser- 


1809.1 


HEBRON  CAMP-MEETING. 


185 


mons  each  day ;  and  tlie  intermediate  time,  almost 
day  and  night  without  intermission,  was  occupied  in 
meetings  for  prayer,  exhortation,  and  the  relation  of 
Christian  experience.  Several  things  conspired  to 
make  Mr.  Hedding  feel  an  intense  anxiety  as  to  the 
conduct  and  results  of  this  meeting.  He  knew  that 
there  was  a  strong  prejudice  in  the  community 
against  such  meetings,  and  many  scandalous  stories 
had  been  circulated  about  them.  It  was  the  first 
that  had  ever  been  attempted  to  be  held  on  the  dis- 
trict ;  and,  in  fact,  he  himself  had  but  little  acquaint- 
ance with  the  management  of  them,  as  he  had  visited 
but  one,  and  that  was  the  one  held  during  the  session 
of  the  conference  at  Monmouth. 

He  felt  that  a  heavy  responsibility  was  upon  him ; 
and  he  earnestly  besought  God  that  he  would  not 
permit  his  people  to  go  up  without  his  presence,  and 
that  the  meeting  might  redound  to  the  honour  of  true 
religion  and  the  good  of  the  Church.  The  result 
proved  that  these  intercessions  were  not  in  vain ;  it 
was  perhaps  the  most  memorable  camp-meeting  ever 
held  in  New-England.  From  the  very  commence- 
ment there  were  signal  indications  of  the  divine 
presence  and  power.  Often  during  the  exercises 
individuals  would  fall  prostrate  to  the  ground.  As 
the  meeting  progressed,  the  interest  continued  to 
increase.  On  the  fourth  or  fifth  day,  during  the 
evening  sermon,  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  fell 
on  the  congregation  with  overwhelming  force.  The 
people  began  to  fall  on  every  side.    Many  who  had 


186  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1809. 

come  to  the  meeting  out  of  mere  idle  curiosity,  were 
stricken  down  to  the  gronnd,  and  cried  aloud  for 
mercy.  Many  of  other  Christian  denominations,  who 
were  greatly  prejudiced  against  the  Methodists,  and 
especially  against  such  exercises,  fell  powerless  to 
the  earth,  and  afterward  acknowledged  the  mighty 
hand  of  God.  Quite  a  number  of  Methodists,  also, 
who  had  never  witnessed  such  scenes,  and  were 
strongly  opposed  to  them,  fell  along  with  the  others. 
It  was  an  awful  hour  of  the  manifestation  of  God's 
power  and  gi-ace.  Within  the  space  of  a  few  min- 
utes, it  was  ascertained  that  not  less  than  fim  hion- 
dred  lay  prostrate  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Although  it  was  evening,  the  report  of  these  events 
was  spread  through  the  to^vn  of  Colchester,  a  few 
miles  distant;  and  the  people  flocked  in  crowds  to 
the  scene.  Physicians  came,  and  passed  around 
among  the  prostrate  people,  feeling  the  pulses  of 
the  helpless :  they  looked,  as  they  passed  around,  as 
solemn  as  if  they  were  just  going  forth  to  the  judg- 
ment. The  people  were  all  amazed  and  confounded; 
the  scoffer  was  silenced ;  the  blasphemer  turned  pale 
and  trembled;  the  infidel  stood  aghast.  The  uni- 
versal voice  of  all  was :  "  Truly  this  is  the  mighty 
power  of  God ;  let  us  adore  and  tremble  before  him." 
That  night  of  glorious  power  was  with  multitudes 
the  turning  point  that  thenceforward  shaped  their 
destinies  heavenward ;  and  in  the  breasts  of  hundreds 
of  Christians  the  holy  fire  was  kindled  anew  into  a 
more  glorious  and  inextinguishable  fiame.  Yictory 


1810.] 


MR.    HEDDING'S  MARRIAGE. 


18Y 


was  now  complete.  The  fame  of  this  meeting  spread 
far  and  wide,  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in 
favour  of  Methodism  through  all  that  region  of  coun- 
try. It  contributed  not  a  little  to  swell  the  successes 
and  the  gains  which  we  have  already  noticed  for  the 
year  upon  the  district. 

Up  to  this  time  Mr.  Hedding  had  travelled  as  a 
single  man ;  but  on  the  10th  of  January,  1810,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  Blish,  of  Gilsum, 
Cheshire  Co.,  H.  Her  parents  were  both  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  her  father  being  a 
deacon,  and  a  man  of  good  standing  among  his  peo- 
ple. They  had  conscientiously  and  piously  dedi- 
cated their  daughter  in  her  infancy  to  the  Lord  by 
the  sacred  rite  of  baptism.  In  very  early  life  she 
was  unusually  thoughtful  upon  the  subject  of  religion, 
and  was  often  deeply  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  her 
soul:  but  little  encouragement,  however,  was  given 
at  that  day  to  induce  children  to  become  experiment- 
ally pious.  She  was  also  greatly  perplexed  with  Cal- 
vinism. In  this  state  of  mind  she  continued  till  she 
was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  when,  in  1801,  she 
visited  a  married  sister  residing  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Plattsburgh  Circuit.  Here,  for  the  first  time  in 
her  life,  she  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  hearing  Method- 
ist doctrines  and  the  Methodist  ministry.  These  new 
doctrines  immediately  attracted  her  attention;  she 
perceived  that  they  solved  all  the  difficulties  which 
had  so  long  perplexed  her  mind;  and  she  at  once 
embraced  them  heartily.    But  this  was  not  all :  her 


188  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1810. 


way  was  now  opened  to  seek  that  which  had  so  long 
been  the  conscious  want  of  her  sonl :  she  sought  the 
Lord  with  all  her  heart,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
pardoning  mercy  was  revealed  unto  her  sonl,  and  she 
enjoyed  a  great  and  holy  peace.  As  the  ministry 
of  the  Methodist  Church  had  been  instrumental  in 
leading  her  to  God,  and  as  she  heartily  believed  aU 
its  docti'ines,  and  believed  that  its  institutions  were 
peculiarly  calculated  to  help  her  in  the  divine  life, 
she  soon  became  a  member  of  that  Church.  From 
various  causes,  her  stay  with  her  sister  was  protracted 
to  three  or  four  years ;  during  all  of  which  time  she 
enjoyed  the  ministry  and  the  privileges  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 

On  her  return  to  her  father's  house,  she  felt  it  to 
be  her  duty  to  convene  with  her  parents  and  other 
members  of  the  family  upon  experimental  religion. 
The  renewal  of  the  heart  was  to  them  a  new  theme ; 
and  even  her  parents,  though  they  had  long  been 
members  of  the  Church,  and  her  father  was  a  deacon, 
confessed  that  they  were  not  only  inexperienced,  but 
ignorant  upon  the  subject.  Anxious  for  the  salvation 
of  her  parents,  and  solicitous  for  the  cause  of  Christ 
in  the  neighbourhood,  she  obtained  the  consent  of  her 
parents  to  invite  Methodist  preachers — after  giving 
a  full  and  clear  account  of  their  doctrines  and  mode 
of  preaching — to  come  into  the  neighbourhood  and 
preach  at  her  father's  house.  The  result  was  that 
soon  both  parents,  and  also  other  members  of  the 
family,  and  some  of  the  neighbours,  were  converted 


1810.] 


FITNESS   OF   HIS  CHOICE. 


189 


to  God.  Regular  preaching  was  established,  and  a 
flourishing  society  raised  up. 

Mr.  Hedding  first  became  acquainted  with  this 
young  woman  when  he  was  ti-avelling  the  Plattsbm-gh 
Circuit,  in  1801.  That  acquaintance  had  been  re- 
newed after  her  return  to  her  father's  in  E^ew-Hamp- 
shire.  Having  become  satisfied  of  her  fitness  to  be 
associated  with  him  in  the  great  work  to  wliich  his 
all  was  dedicated,  and  that  she  would  be  a  help  and 
not  a  hinderance,  whatever  toils  and  privations  they 
might  be  subjected  to,  he  made  proposals  of  mar- 
riage, and  was  accepted.  It  is  a  snfficient  vindication 
of  the  wisdom  of  that  choice,  that  through  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  an  itinerant's  career,  for  more  than  forty 
years,  she  was  the  constant  companion  of  his  toils,  and 
the  sharer  of  his  joys  and  sorrows.  Forty-two  yeai-s 
and  four  months  after  their  marriage  we  witnessed  the 
agony  of  her  bm-sting  heart,  as  she  came  down  to  the 
brink  of  Jordan  and  saw  the  dark  waters  close  over 
her  sainted  husband  forever.  An  aged  pilgrim,  sus- 
tained and  comforted  by  the  undying  faith  that  shed 
such  a  glorious  halo  over  his  last  hours,  she  hngers 
yet  a  little  while  below,  till  her  Master  shall  bid  her 
come  up  and  join  her  beloved  in  the  better  land. 
Calmly  and  peacefully  may  the  shades  of  evening 
gather  around  her ;  glorious  may  be  the  unfolding  of 
the  morning  of  her  immortahty. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hedding  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  town  of  Winchester,  E'ew-Hampshire. 
He  had  now  been  travelling,  including  the  period 


190  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF  BEDDING.  [1810. 


when  employed  by  the  elder,  ten  years.  They  were, 
as  we  have  already  seen,  years  of  hard  labonr  as  well 
as  effective  service.  They  were,  however,  years  of 
privation,  as  well  as  of  toil  and  suffering.  A  short 
time  before  he  died,  referring  to  this  period,  he  said 
to  the  author :  "  Dm-ing  that  time  I  was  a  single  man, 
and  travelled,  on  an  average,  three  thousand  miles  a 
year,  or  thirty  thousand  in  ten  years ;  and  preached 
nearly  every  day  in  the  year.  All  the  pay  I  received 
for  these  ten  years  was  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollai-s, 
or  an  average  of  forty-five  dollars  a  year.  One  year 
I  received  on  my  circuit,  exclusive  of  travelling  ex- 
penses, three  dollai-s  and  twenty-five  cents ;  this  was 
made  up  to  twenty-one  dollars  at  conference.  My 
pantaloons  were  often  patched  upon  the  knees,  and 
the  sisters  often  showed  their  kmdness  by  turning  cm 
old  coat  for  meP''  A  man  that  could  perform  such 
labours  and  endure  such  j)rivations,  through  so  long 
a  period,  without  murmuring  and  fainting,  must  have 
been  deeply  conscious  of  the  imperative  call  of  God 
that  proclaimed  woe  to  him  if  he  preached  not  the 
gospel ;  and  also  deeply  imbued  with  that  divine  love 
that  led  his  Lord  and  Master  to  toil  and  suffer  before 
him. 

Let  us  pause  for  a  moment  in  our  narrative.  A 
phenomenon  rises  before  us  demanding  solution.  The 
principles  and  motives  of  human  action  for  the  most 
part  lie  upon  the  surface,  and  may  be  known.  The 
warrior,  dyed  with  the  blood  of  a  hundred  battles, 
goes  forth  at  the  summons  of  glory,  or  at  his  country's 


1810.]  MOTIVES   OF  ACTION. 


191 


call.  Tlie  stem  Piiritan  forsakes  the  home  of  his 
fathers,  and  turns  the  prow  of  his  bark  toward  the 
mighty  sea ;  but  we  can  gauge  the  magnitude  of  his 
mission :  he  goes  to  sow  the  seeds  of  liberty  upon  the 
virgin  soil  of  a  new  world;  he  goes  to  build  cities, 
to  found  nations,  to  people  a  continent,  and  to  open  up 
a  highway  to  all  the  earth.  Tlie  orator,  in  his  divine 
eloquence,  rushes  "with  the  impetuosity  of  a  torrent, 
sweeping  along  with  him  the  convictions  and  sym- 
pathies of  men ;  but  the  ground  of  action  no  one  can 
mistake :  the  interests  of  his  country  or  of  humanity 
are  in  peril,  and  he  calls  to  the  rescue.  The  man 
devoted  to  science  toils  with  unceasing  effort,  his 
very  frame  shattered  and  shaken  with  the  intensity 
of  his  thought ;  and  we  know  that  the  love  of  science 
or  of  fame  impels  him  to  action,  even  while  it  is  con- 
suming all  that  is  physical  and  mortal  in  his  nature. 
The  author  delves  into  the  deep,  dark  mines  of  thought : 
it  is  for  him  to  speak  to  coming  ages  ;  his  busy  brain 
is  shaping  thoughts  that  shall  Hve  forever ;  preparing 
utterances  that  shall  "  fall  like  fire  upon  the  hearts  of 
men"  in  coming  generations,  and  kindle  in  them  new 
life  and  energy, — ^utterances  that,  by  their  sway  over 
the  realms  of  thought  and  emotion,  shall  exercise  a 
vast  and  undying  influence  over  the  affairs  of  men, 
and  the  destinies  of  the  world. 

But  what  shall  we  say  of  this  forlorn  hope,  this 
band  of  heroes,  with  a  devotion  more  pure  and  cease- 
less than  that  of  the  patriot,  with  an  eloquence  com- 
bining the  elements  of  moral  greatness  and  power,  and 


192  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1810. 

with  a  hardihood  that  slirinks  from  no  labour,  and  is 
intimidated  by  no  danger, — ^toiling  without  prospect 
or  hope  of  earthly  reward, — sacrificing  ease,  comfort, 
home,  health,  and  even  life  itself, — ti'eading  the  waste 
places  and  the  wildernesses,  and  traversing  islands, 
continents,  and  oceans  ?  Who.  are  they  ?  by  whom 
are  they  sent  forth?  and  what  is  the  object  of  their 
toil?  Let  the  Chm*ches  that  have  been  planted  all 
over  the  land,  the  missionaries  that  have  been  sent  out 
to  other  lands ;  let  the  incessantly-increasing  tide  of  in- 
fluence that  is  rolling  onward  the  kingdom  of  Christ  to 
its  complete  and  final  triumph ;  and,  above  all,  let  the 
millions  that  have  been  brought  to  God,  and  are  now 
decked  with  light  and  glory  around  the  eternal  throne ; 
let  all  these  respond  and  tell  who  these  wanderei-s  are, 
and  for  what  they  toil !  Are  they  charged  with  being 
corrupt  men  and  dissemblers?  The  pm-ity  of  their 
lives  vindicates  them.  Are  they  charged  with  being 
ignorant  and  blind  fanatics?  The  results  of  their 
ministry,  and  the  noble  monument  erected  by  their 
labours,  are  a  full  refutation  of  the  charge.  Is  it  said 
that  they  laboured  only  for  selfish  and  mercenary  ends? 
Their  unselfish  lives,  their  self-denials,  and  in  most 
cases  their  poverty,  attest  that  such  were  not  their 
aims. 

Roll  back  the  tide  of  time  through  the  lapse  of 
eighteen  centuries.  I  see  a  little  band  traversing  the 
idolatrous,  barbarous  regions  of  Asia  Minor.  Their 
appearance  marks  them  as  of  the  land  of  Israel.  They 
journey  from  city  to  city ,  they  are  inured  to  hard- 


1810.]  LABOURS    IN   THE    RETROSPECT.  193 


sliips  and  dangers ;  men  despise  and  ridicule  them ; 
they  are  exposed  to  buffetting  and  stripes,  imprison- 
ments and  death:  but  none  of  these  things  move 
them.  I  go  and  ask  them  why  they  toil,  and  suffer, 
and  die.  With  united  voice  they  respond,  "The 
love  of  Christ  constraineth  us," — "  iTeither  count  we 
our  lives  dear  unto  ourselves,  so  that  we  might  finish 
our  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  we  have 
received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God."  The  same  spirit  that  beamed 
out  in  the  life  of  the  missionaries  of  the  primeval 
Church,  though  smothered  for  ages,  burst  forth 
again  in  all  its  primitive  beauty  and  power  in  the 
early  apostles  of  Methodism.  The  workmen  were 
changed,  but  the  work  was  one. 

But,  after  all,  was  it  not  the  fire  of  youthful  enthu- 
siasm, that  would  become  rectified  by  age  and  ex- 
perience? Shall  we  ask,  then,  how  these  labours, 
privations,  and  sufferings  were  regarded,  when  the 
time  of  labom*  was  over,  and  life  was  hasting  to  its 
close  ?  In  the  dismal  cell  of  a  Eoman  prison  I  see  a 
prisoner ;  the  walls  of  his  narrow  room,  like  a  wall 
of  granite,  are  enclosed  about  him;  his  locks  are 
white,  he  is  shaken  with  age ;  he  sits  down  to  write ; 
with  difficulty  he  traces  his  message  upon  the  manu- 
script before  him.  It  is  a  final  charge  to  his  son  in 
the  gospel.  His  own  hfe  has  been  spent  in  toil  and 
suffering,  and  now  he  is  in  poverty  and  imprisonment, 
and  soon  to  die  like  a  common  felon.  Does  he  charge 
his  son  to  seek  exemption  from  toil  and  suffering? 


194:  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1810 

Nay ;  lie  says,  "  Endure  afflictions,  do  the  work,  of 
an  evangelist,  make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry."  As 
he  looks  back  upon  the  past,  he  says :  "  I  am  now 
ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departm-e  is 
at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  finished 
my  course;  I  have  kept  the  faith."  Then,  as  he 
glanced  forward  to  the  future,  he  added, — "Hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me 
at  that  day." 

And  so  our  venerable  Hedding — standing  upon  the 
brink  of  the  grave,  and  looking  back  over  the  lapse 
of  half  a  century — said:  "I  had  laboured  fifty  years 
and  one  month  in  the  ministry  before  my  constitution 
gave  way ;  I  suffered  a  great  deal ;  have  been  perse- 
cuted ;  the  most  abusive  and  slanderous  stories  have 
been  circulated  against  me ;  men  have  come  to  my 
meetings  armed  with  clubs,  intending  to  assault  me ; 
the  Methodists  were  poor,  the  fare  hard,  and  the 
rides  long  and  tedious:  but  if  I  had  fifty  lives^ 
cmd  each  afforded  me  an  o])por1mnit/y  for  fifty  yea/rs^ 
labour^  I  would  cheerfully  employ  them  all  in  the 
same  Messed  cause^  a^d,  if  need  he,  would  suffer  the 
same  jprvdobionsP 

Such  were  the  feehngs  and  views  with  which  he 
entered  upon  the  great  work  of  his  life;  and  such 
were  the  feelings  with  which  he  looked  back  upon 
that  work  from  the  sublime  altitude  from  which  he 
has  so  lately  ascended  to  his  God. 

The  New-England  Conference,  for  the  year  1810, 


1810.]  CONFERENCE    AT   WINCHESTER.  195 


met  at  Wincliester,  the  place  which  had  lately  become 
Mr.  Hedding's  residence.  The  conference  met  imder 
circumstances  somewhat  peculiar.  In  the  village  of 
Winchester — or  indeed  near  enough  to  it  to  entertain 
the  preachers — there  was  but  one  Methodist  family. 
At  the  preceding  session  of  the  conference,  the  head 
of  this  family  presented  himself  before  that  body,  and 
invited  them  to  hold  their  next  session  in  Winchester. 
When  the  brethren  inquired  how  the  conference  would 
be  entertained  in  a  village  where  there  was  but  one 
Methodist  family,  he  requested  that  the  conference 
would  give  themselves  no  concern  as  to  that  matter, 
but  accept  his  invitation.  His  pledge  was  nobly  re- 
deemed. His  own  ample  house  was  first  filled  to 
repletion,  and  abundant  hospitality  shown  to  all  his 
guests.  Then  a  number  were  quartered  among  his 
relations  and  friends  in  the  village.  Those  that  re- 
mained were  provided  with  excellent  board  at  his 
expense.  The  conference  had  never  been  more  mu- 
nificently entertained  than  at  this  session. 

Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree  were  both  pres- 
ent, and  alternately  presided  over  the  sessions  of  the 
conference ;  and  both  took  part  in  the  public  exer- 
cises of  the  occasion.  The  aggregate  membership 
returned  this  year  was  eleven  thousand  two  hundred 
and  twenty,  being  an  increase  upon  last  year  of  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-four.  The  ranks 
of  the  ministry  were  weakened  by  five  locations,  and 
recruited  by  fifteen  admissions  upon  trial. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  returned  to  the  district,  the 
9 


196  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDINO.  D810. 

organization  of  wliicli  for  tlie  year  was  as  follows : — 
Kew-London  District,  Elijah  Hedding^  P.  E. ;  Tol- 
land, Joel  Steely  Samuel  Cutler;  Ashbumliain, 
Philip  Munger^  Stephen  Wingate ;  ISTeedham,  Isaac 
Bonney^  Kobert  Arnold ;  Providence  and  Smithfield, 
Pliny  Brett^  Elisha  Streeter ;  East  Greenwich,  Ben- 
jamin P.  Hill ;  Pomfret,  Theojphilus  Smith ;  New- 
London,  Joel  Winch,  E.  Marble,  A.  Stebbins.  Here 
we  find  seven  elders  besides  Mr.  Hedding  on  the 
district,  and  a  mnch  greater  weight  of  experience  if 
not  of  talent  than  on  the  former  year. 

To  obtain  a  location  more  central  to  the  district 
than  Winchester,  Mr.  Hedding  removed  to  Ludlow 
in  Massachusetts.  An  incident  connected  with  his 
removal  to  this  place  will  show  to  what  extent  opposi- 
tion to  Methodism  was  earned  in  those  early  days,  and 
what  means  were  resorted  to  in  order  to  throw  reproach 
upon  her  ministers  when  opportunity  ofi*ered.  There 
was  at  this  time  a  law  in  force  in  that  state,  provid- 
ing that  when  a  stranger  moved  into  a  place,  if  the 
authorities  of  the  town  warned  him  to  leave  it,  and 
he  did  not,  and  afterward  became  a  pauper,  the 
to^vn  was  not  obhged  to  support  him,  but  the  expense 
of  his  support  fell  upon  the  state.  "When  Mr.  Hed- 
ding moved  to  Ludlow,  some  of  the  people  were 
bitterly  opposed  to  the  residence  of  a  Methodist 
preacher  even  in  the  town,  and  threatened,  if  he  did 
not  remove,  to  have  him  warned  out.  They  seemed 
wonderfully  excited  with  apprehension  lest  "the 
vagrant  Methodist  preacher,"  as  they  affected  to  caU 


1810.] 


TOWN   OF  LUDLOW. 


197 


him,  should  become  a  pauper,  and  the  town  be  com- 
pelled to  support  him.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  this  was  not  the  voice  of  the  jpeojple^  but  a  few 
elect  ones  of  "  the  standing  order."  But  upon  second 
thought,  and  a  httle  more  knowledge  of  the  manner 
in  which  such  a  thing  would  be  likely  to  be  received 
by  the  public  generally,  his  enemies  abandoned  their 
plan  of  operations,  and  were  glad  to  hush  the  whole 
matter. 

There  was  another  law  of  the  state  which  required 
each  town  to  employ  a  minister  and  have  preaching  a 
certain  portion  of  each  year.  When  Mr.  Hedding 
moved  to  Ludlow,  the  town  was  without  any  settled 
minister.  About  this  time  the  town,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  fine,  appropriated  a  certain  amount  of 
money,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  supply  the 
pulpit  the  requisite  number  of  Sabbaths.  The  com- 
mittee immediately  invited  Mr.  Hedding  to  preach 
for  them.  Having  but  seven  circuits  on  his  district, 
he  found  it  possible  so  to  arrange  his  appointments  as 
to  accommodate  them.  He  therefore  made  arrange- 
ments to  supply  the  Congregational  Church  five  Sab- 
baths in  each  quarter.  The  people  not  only  soon  be- 
came satisfied  with  the  arrangement,  but  were  greatly 
pleased  with  it :  only  one  family  in  the  whole  town 
retained  their  opposition  to  it.  The  congregations 
were  very  large,  and  deeply  interested  in  his  minis- 
trations ;  and  it  is  believed  that  great  good  resulted 
from  the  incidental  and  somewhat  anomalous  rela- 
tion.   We  opine  that  there  are  not  many  instances 


198  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1810. 


wlieii  the  same  individual,  at  the  same  time,  has 
held  the  office  of  presiding  elder  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Chnrch,  and  been  settled  pastor  over  a 
Congregational  society.  This  extra  labom*  was  of 
material  advantage  to  the  finances  of  Mr.  Hedding, 
as  the  district  afforded  him  but  a  meager  support. 

How  well  his  services  were  received  in  the  town, 
their  subsequent  action  will  show.  For  the  next 
year  a  town-meeting  was  called,  and  the  town  passed 
a  resolution  requesting  him  to  locate  as  a  Methodist 
minister,  and  to  become  settled  as  their  pastor.  They 
voted  him  an  ample  support,  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  wait  upon  him,  and  make  known  their 
request  at  the  ensuing  conference.  He  had,  however, 
become  so  thoroughly  wedded  to  the  itinerant  min- 
istry, and  was  so  strongly  convinced  that,  under 
God,  it  was  to  be  the  great  instrument  of  spreading 
Scripture  holiness  over  all  these  lands,  that  he  could 
not  for  one  moment  entertain  the  idea  of  relinquishing 
his  connexion  with  it.  What,  to  him,  were  ease, 
worldly  comfort,  or  worldly  position  compared  with 
the  accomplishment  of  the  great  mission  which  he 
had  received  to  testify  of  the  grace  of  God  ? 

It  may  be  that  subsequently,  when  driving  round 
his  extensive  districts,  facing  the  chilhng  blasts  and 
pelting  storms  of  winter,  or  wading  through  drifts  of 
snow  to  make  a  path  for  his  horse,  the  flesh  some- 
times repined  with  more  intenseness  at  the^recoUec- 
tion  of  his  rejection  of  so  easy  and  so  inviting  a  post. 
Perhaps  these  recollections  would  now  and  then 


1810.] 


EEFEESHING  MEDITATIONS. 


199 


give  additional  point  to  those  "  ricli  and  refreshing 
meditations  "  the  Rev.  Mr.  I^'ewhall  speaks  of  having 
when  placed  under  similar  circumstances.  The  pro- 
cess of  getting  through  an  immense  snow-drift  he 
thus  describes :  "  I  dismounted,  and  made  my  way 
through  ahead  of  my  horse,  as  far  as  I  could  without 
letting  go  of  the  bridle-rein ;  and  then  he  would  leap 
and  wallow  up  to  me,  and  wait  till  I  had  again  made 
him  a  track.  The  storm  was  so  severe  that  I  found 
it  difficult,  at  times,  to  catch  my  breath,  and  our  path 
was  filled  as  fast  as  we  left  it."  In  this  way  he  was 
working  more  than  two  hom-s  to  get  through  a  single 
drift — determined  not  to  lose  a  single  appointment 
except  from  the  sternest  necessity.  While  in  this 
condition,  he  cari'ied  on  the  following  dialogue  with 
himself : — "  Q.  Who  is  that  up  to  his  arms  in  snow  ? 
A.  A  Methodist  preacher.  Q.  Who  is  that  in  his 
snug  study  by  a  warm  fire?  A.  The  honourable 
settled  minister.  Q.  What  is  the  Methodist  preacher 
doing?  A.  Making  his  way  to  his  appointment, 
where  he  hopes  to  call  sinners  to  repentance. 
Q.  What  is  the  settled  minister  doing  ?  A.  Hunting 
his  library  over,  selecting  portions,  and  adding,  per- 
haps, some  of  his  own  thoughts,  and  writing  out  a 
sermon  to  read  to  the  people  the  next  Sabbath. 
Q.  Which  of  them  looks  most  like  a  lazy  man ;  and 
which  gets  the  most  money,  the  most  reproaches,  or 
follows  the  example  of  Christ  and  the  apostles  near- 
est, in  travelling,  suffering,  preaching,  self-denials, 
watchings,  fastings,  and  winning  souls  to  Christ? 


200  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1810. 


Here,"  continues  he,  "  my  mind  looked  back,  and  saw 
Jesns,  weary,  sitting  on  Jacob's  well ;  Paul  tossing  on 
the  rolling  waves  and  shipwrecked  at  Miletns ;  and 
John  on  the  desolate  Isle  of  Patmos;  and  my  full 
soul  cried  out,  in  the  midst  of  the  tempest,  O  Lord,  per- 
mit me  to  wear  out  in  thy  service."  To  these  feelings 
and  these  reasonings  the  heart  of  Mr.  Hedding  was 
no  stranger;  but  never  for  one  moment  was  he 
swerved  from  a  full  purpose  to  pursue  to  the  end  the 
path  of  duty  that  had  been  opened  to  him  by  the 
providence  of  God. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  year  the  energy  and  per- 
severance of  Mr.  HeddiDg  were  put  to  a  rather  severe 
test.  His  horse  became  disabled  while  j)assing  round 
his  district;  and  he  was  obliged  to  travel  on  foot  a 
day  or  two  before  he  could  get  another.  The  fatigue 
of  travelling,  together  with  a  severe  cold  he  had 
taken,  brought  on  him  andfher  severe  attack  of  the 
rheumatism.  He  was  unable,  without  help,  to  mount 
or  dismount  from  his  horse,  when  he  had  procured 
one.  He  then  obtained  a  chaise,  but  could  neither 
get  in  nor  out  without  aid ;  he  could  neither  dress  nor 
undress  himself;  nor  could  he  stand,  to  preach  or 
kneel  to  pray,  but  would  pray  and  preach  sitting  in 
his  chair.  In  this  crippled  condition,  and  amid  in- 
tense suffering,  he  rode  all  round  his  district,  requir- 
ing a  travel  of  over  five  hundred  miles,  and  attended 
all  his  quarterly  meetings,  not  omitting  a  single  one 
of  the  duties  he  had  been  accustomed  to  perform. 

While  in  this  condition,  he  was  one  day  riding 


1810.]  AN   INCIDENT   OF  TRAVEL. 


201 


along  a  narrow  road  dug  in  the  side  of  a  hill.  At  a 
point  where  it  was  impossible  for  two  wagons  to  pass 
in  tlie  road,  he  met  a  heavily-loaded  team.  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  told  the  man  he  was  lame  and  unable  to  get  out 
of  his  carriage,  and  requested  him  to  help  him  out, 
and  then  to  move  his  chaise  to  one  side  till  he  had 
passed.  The  Connecticut  Yankee  replied:  "Sit  still, 
sir,  I  can  lift  you  and  your  chaise  both  out  of  the 
road and,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  placed 
his  back  under  the  axletree  of  the  chaise,  and  actually 
lifted  it  up  the  hill-side  so  far  that  his  own  team  passed 
without  difficulty.  Then  he  returned,  and  by  the 
same  means  restored  the  chaise  to  its  position  in  the 
middle  of  the  road.  Mr.  Hedding  acknowledged  the 
favour  and  drove  on,  filled  with  wonder  at  the  Her- 
culean strength  and  the  astonishing  sleight  which 
had  enabled  the  man  to  perform  with  apparent  ease 
what  would  have  been  deemed  an  utter  impossi- 
bility. 

Another  incident  connected  with  his  affliction  and 
final  cure  is  worthy  of  record.  Having  broken  his 
chaise  in  riding  over  the  rough  roads,  he  had  been 
compelled  to  resume  his  travels  on  horseback.  In 
one  day  he  rode  from  Thompson,  in  Connecticut,  to 
Warwick,  Rhode  Island.  The  next  morning  he  had 
to  call  for  help  to  enable  him  to  get  out  of  bed  and  to 
dress.  At  the  hour  of  service  he  was  enabled,  by  the 
help  of  crutches,  to  cross  the  street  to  a  school-house, 
where  he  preached  in  a  sitting  posture ;  and  afterward 
with^great  difficulty  got  back  to  his  lodgings.  At 


202  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  USll. 

night,  he  said  to  his  host  he  would  never  go  to  bed 
again  until  he  was  better  or  worse ;  and  requested 
him  to  make  a  fire  of  large  wood  in  the  kitchen — one 
that  would  burn  all  night.  This  having  been  done, 
he  lay  down  before  it  on  the  floor,  with  his  clothes 
on ;  as  near  to  the  fire  as  he  could  get  without  burn- 
ing. So  completely  exhausted  was  he  with  loss  of 
sleep,  and  the  bodily  distress  he  had  sufiered,  that  he 
soon  fell  into  a  profound  slumber,  from  which  he  did 
not  awake  till  broad  daylight.  He  then  found  that  he 
had  been  in  a  great  perspiration  all  night,  and  that  his 
clothes  were  wet  completely  through  and  through. 
He  arose,  to  his  astonishment,  without  difficulty ;  and 
found  that  he  could  walk  with  ease  and  without  pain. 
This  was  to  him  marvellous ;  but  so  completely  was 
his  cui'e  efi'ected  by  that  sweat,  administered  in  -such 
a  primitive  mode,  that  he  walked  a  mile  to  church, 
held  a  love-feast,  preached  twice,  administered  the 
sacrament,  and  then  walked  back  without  any  incon- 
venience. He  was  troubled  no  more  with  the 
rheumatism  that  season. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  now  drawing  toward  the  close  of 
the  first  ten  years  of  his  itinerant  career,  as  a  member 
of  the  conference.  Just  before  their  close,  he  made 
record  of  the  following  summary  of  his  labours  and 
trials :  "  I  have  averaged  over  three  thousand  miles' 
travel  a  year,  and  preached  on  an  average  a  sermon 
a  day  since  I  commenced  the  itinerant  life.  During 
that  period  I  have  travelled  circuits  and  districts  that 
joined  each  other,  through  a  tract  of  country  begin- 


1811.] 


LABOURS   AND  TRIALS. 


203 


ning  near  Troy,  Kew-York,  and  going  north  into 
Canada;  thence  east,  through  Yermont  and  Xew- 
Hampshire;  and  thence  southerly,  through  Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut,  to  Long 
Island  Sound.  I  have  never  in  this  time  owned  a 
travelling  vehicle,  but  have  ridden  on  horseback,  ex- 
cept occasionally  in  winter,  when  I  have  bon-owed  a 
sleigh,  and  also  a  few  instances  in  which  I  have  trav- 
elled by  public  conveyance  or  a  borrowed  carriage. 
I  have  both  laboured  hard  and  fared  hard.  Much  of 
the  time  I  have  done  missionary  work  without  mis- 
sionary money.  Until  recently  I  have  had  no  dwell- 
ing-place or  home ;  but,  as  a  wayfaring  man,  lodged 
from  night  to  night  where  hospitality  and  ft'iendship 
opened  the  way.  In  most  of  these  regions  the  Meth- 
odists were  few,  and  comparatively  poor ;  I  was  often 
obliged  to  depend  upon  poor  people  for  food,  and 
lodging,  and  horse-keeping;  and  though  in  general 
they  provided  for  me  cheerfully  and  willingly,  yet  I 
often  felt  that  I  was  taking  what  they  needed  for 
their  children,  and  that  my  horse  was  eating  what 
they  needed  for  their  own  beasts.  I  often  suifered 
great  trials  of  mind  on  this  account ;  and  have  trav- 
elled many  a  day  in  summer  and  winter  without 
dinner,  because  I  had  not  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  that  I 
could  spare  to  buy  it. 

"Through  most  all  this  region  there  existed 
strong  prejudices  against  the  Methodists,  which 
greatly  hindered  their  influence  and  usefulness. 
The  principal  objection  was  on  account  of  their 

9^ 


204  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  L1811. 

doctrines.  They  were  regarded  by  many  as  here- 
tics in  theology.  They  were  also  despised  and  ridi- 
culed on  account  of  their  poA^erty.  The  Methodist 
preachers  were  often  represented  as  exceedingly 
ignorant  and  incompetent  men.  The  itinerant  sys- 
tem was  also  another  ground  of  objection.  The  cir- 
cuit preacher,  coming  as  a  stranger  to  a  new  people, 
would  often  find  himself  beset  with  the  most  scandal- 
ous reports  of  crimes  and  shameful  acts,  which  it  was 
alleged  he  had  been  guilty  of  on  former  circuits; 
and  thus  the  enemies  of  Methodism  would  seek  to 
imdermine  his  influence  and  destroy  his  usefulness. 
Such  are  some  of  the  difficulties  the  Methodist 
preachers  have  been  compelled  to  encounter,  especi- 
ally in  jN'ew-England,  during  the  past  ten  years.  But 
notwithstanding  all,  God  has  been  with  them,  and 
given  them  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  and  great 
success  in  building  up  his  Church.  Revivals  have 
spread  through  all  the  country ;  and  multitudes  have 
been  added  to  the  little  and  despised  flock:  nay, 
many  who  were  once  the  greatest  enemies  of  Meth- 
odism, and  especially  of  Methodist  preachers,  have 
been  converted,  and  are  now  become  their  greatest 
and  truest  friends." 

During  this  year  there  were  several  revivals  on 
the  district.  A  camp-meeting  was  also  held  at  Ellis- 
ton,  Connecticut.  It  was  numerously  attended ;  and, 
though  not  signalized  for  such  wonderful  displays  of 
the  power  of  God  as  that  on  the  preceding  year,  the 
Church  was  greatly  blessed,  and  many  sinners  were 


1811.] 


CLOSE   OF   THE  YEAR. 


205 


converted.  The  returns  for  the  New-England  Con- 
ference this  year  were  eleven  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-eight,  showing  an  increase  of  six  hundred 
and  forty-eight.  The  total  membership  of  the  Church 
in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  this  year,  amounted 
to  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  thousand  five  hundred 
and  sixty-seven,  and  the  increase  to  ten  thousand  and 
seven.  Thus  had  God  been  cariying  on  his  work,  by 
such  instruments,  and  in  spite  of  such  obstacles  as  we 
have  described,  all  over  the  country.  The  glad  news 
of  salvation  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  had  been  pro- 
claimed not  only  through  all  ^Tew-England,  but  in  the 
farthest  south,  and  all  along  our  frontiers  among  the 
teeming  population  of  the  far  West. 


206  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1811. 


CHAPTEK  YH. 

LABOTJES  IN  BOSTON,  NANTTCKET,  AND  LYNN  STATIONS. 

New-England  Conference  for  1811 — Mr.  Hedding  a  Delegate  to  the 
General  Conference — Appointed  to  Boston — Labours — The  Embargo — 
Pecuniary  Embarrassments  of  the  People — Spiritual  Prosperity — Con- 
version of  E.  T.  Taylor— Mr.  Bedding's  Colleague,  Rev.  E.  R.  Sabin— 
The  First  Delegated  General  Conference — The  Presiding  Elder  Question 
—The  Question  in  the  General  Conference  of  1808— In  1812— Its  Sub- 
sequent History — The  Question  in  1816 — Dr.  Bangs's  Account  of  the 
Discussion — The  Question  in  1820 — The  Compromise — Protest  of  Eev. 
Joshua  Soule,  Bishop  Elect — Protest  of  Bishop  M'Kendree — Attempt  to 
reconsider  fails — The  Rule  suspended — Finally  rescinded — Mr.  Hed- 
ding's  Views — Change  of  his  Opinion — Final  Record  of  his  Opinions  on 
the  Subject — The  Question  of  Reserve  Delegates — Surviving  Members 
of  this  Conference — Session  of  the  New-England  Conference — ^War 
declared — Apprehended  Evils — Mr.  Hedding  appointed  to  Nantucket — 
Origin  of  the  Society  here — Rev.  George  Cannon — Evil  Results  of  Locat- 
ing— Mr.  Hedding's  Reception  on  the  Island — Excitement  among  the 
Islanders — Losses  by  the  War — Condition  of  the  People — State  for  the 
Church — Pastoral  Labours — A  Happy  Convert — The  Conference  for  1813 
— State  of  the  Work — Death  of  one  of  Mr.  Hedding's  Early  Associates — 
Thomas  Branch — Character  and  Labours — Departs  for  the  West — Death 
— ^Mr.  Hedding  discovers  his  Grave  in  1826 — His  Letter — Stationed  at 
Lynn  Common — ^Removal — Privations  and  Sufferings  of  the  People — 
His  Sympathy  and  Labours  for  them — His  Colleague — Results  of  the 
Year — Returned  to  Lynn  in  1814 — Labours  of  the  Year — Detained  from 
Conference  by  a  Revival. 

The  JTew-England  Conference  for  1811  held  its 
session  at  Barnard,  Yt.,  in  the  month  of  June. 
Bishop  M'Kendree  was  present  and  presided.  The 
only  thing  of  special  interest  that  occurred  at  this 
session  was  the  election  of  delegates  to  the  General 
Conference  which  was  to  be  held  the  next  year,  but 
before  another  session  of  this  annual  conference. 


1811.] 


LABOURS    IN  BOSTON. 


207 


Two  of  the  delegates — George  Pickering  and  Elijah 
Hedding — received  every  vote  cast,  except  one.  On 
the  announcement  of  this  result,  Bishop  M'Kendree 
pleasantly  remarked  that  it  was  well  those  brethren 
did  not  have  all  the  votes,  for  then  it  would  be 
known  they  had  voted  for  themselves." 

At  this  conference,  Mr.  Hedding  was  appointed 
to  Boston.  This  place  and  Marblehead  stand  con- 
nected in  the  Minutes;  but  the  arrangement  was 
that  Messrs.  Hedding  and  Sabin  should  labour  in 
Boston,  while  the  third  preacher  filled  the  appoint- 
ments and  took  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  society  in 
Marblehead. 

This  was  a  year  of  unusually  hard  service  for  Mr. 
Hedding.  Rev.  E.  R.  Sabin  was  so  disabled  by  his 
broken  health,  that  he  could  do  but  little  beyond 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath.  Tlie  two  congregations 
were  connected  in  one  pastoral  charge;  and,  conse- 
quently, the  whole  care  and  labour  of  Church  busi- 
ness, of  attendance  upon  the  sick  and  upon  funerals, 
as  well  as  general  pastoral  visitation  for  both  congre- 
gations, fell  upon  Mr.  Hedding.  He  had  to  preach 
three  times  on  each  Sabbath,  and  to  dehver  two 
week-evening  lectures — one  in  each  church — weekly. 
But  he  was  not  a  man  to  stand  appalled  before 
labours  and  difiiculties ;  nor  was  he  a  man  that  could 
leave  any  portion  of  his  work  undone  so  long  as  its 
accomplishment  came  within  the  range  of  possi- 
bility. The  amount  of  labour  he  performed  this 
year,  in  the  various  departments  of  his  work,  was 


208 


LIFE   AND    TIMES   OF  HEDDING. 


[1811. 


perhaps  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  other  year  of  his 
ministry. 

Another  thing  that  added  to  his  labom-,  and  was 
an  additional  obstacle  to  his  success,  was  the  political 
and  monetary  state  of  the  country.  The  passage  of 
''the  embargo"  and  "non-intercourse"  acts  had 
produced  a  general  stagnation  of  business.  These 
effects  fell  upon  no  place  with  greater  severity  than 
upon  Boston.  A  large  portion  of  its  capital  was 
employed  in  commercial  enterprise ;  and  now  it  be- 
came not  only  non-productive,  but  in  many  instances 
was  subjected  to  fearful  diminution.  The  whole 
community  felt  the  shock.  The  labourer  could  find 
no  employment ;  provisions  of  almost  every  kind  were 
enormously  high.  The  poor  suffered  greatly;  and 
Mr.  Hedding's  sjanpathies  were  often  put  to  severe 
trial  by  witnessing  the  sufierings  of  many  families  of 
his  own  flock.  In  addition  to  all  his  other  labours, 
he  found  it  necessary  to  devote  no  inconsiderable  por- 
tion of  his  time  in  efforts  to  relieve  the  needy  and 
suffering.  He  says:  "I  often  found  able-bodied  men 
ready  and  desirous  to  work,  but  unable  to  get  work, 
while  they  and  their  families  were  destitute  of  food, 
and  suffering  in  the  winter  from  want  of  fuel.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  small  collections  the  Church  could  make 
for  their  relief,  I  often  had  to  go  to  those  who  had 
the  means,  and  personally  beg  bread  and  fuel  for  the 
relief  of  pious  people  who  were  suffering."  In  this 
state  of  pecuniary  embarrassment,  the  preachers,  of 
course,  suffered  along  with  the  people.    Their  sup- 


1811.]  CONVERSION   OF   E.    T.    TAYLOR.  209 

port  was  very  limited;  scarcely  equal  to  the  stem 
necessities  of  life. 

But  cruslied  and  afflicted  in  temporal  matters  as 
they  were,  the  Church  and  the  ministers  were  never- 
theless alive  to  their  great  work.  They  laboured  like 
men  of  God  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  not  with- 
out effect.  They  were  blessed  with  quite  a  revival, 
and  there  were  many  powerful  and  clear  conversions. 
Mr.  Hedding  remarks  that  "  some  of  those  converted 
this  year  have  lived  and  died  in  the  faith  and  gone 
home  to  heaven ;  others  are  still  in  the  way,  holding 
fast  t£eir  profession." 

It  was  during  this  year  that  a  young  sailor,  dressed 
in  sailor  garb,  with  his  glazed  hat  under  his  arm, 
ventured  into  the  old  Bromfield-street  Church.  He 
took  his  position  in  the  gallery  near  the  stairs,  and 
attentively  listened  to  a  discourse  from  Mr.  Hedding. 
The  truth,  which  was  presented  with  great  clearness, 
power,  and  pathos,  made  a  deep  impression  upon  his 
mind.  He  remained  to  the  prayer  meeting.  Sev- 
eral surrounded  the  altar  for  prayer.  The  power  of 
God  was  there.  His  people  rejoiced  in  his  presence  ; 
mourners  at  the  altar  were  comforted ;  and  sinners 
in  the  congregation  were  constrained  to  acknowledge 
his  mighty  hand.  Soon  the  young  sailor  was  seen  to 
rise  and  make  a  movement  for  the  altar.  Through 
the  crowd  he  pressed  his  way,  fell  upon  his  knees  at 
the  altar,  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  The  preacher 
pointed  him  to  Christ — the  Saviour  of  the  sailor  as 
well  as  the  landsman ;  the  Church  joined  in  prayer 


210  LIFE    A^'X)    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1811. 

to  God  for  his  salvation.  It  was  evident  that  it  was 
no  half-hearted  matter  on  the  part  of  the  young  man. 
He  struggled  for  light  and  salvation.  The  kingdom 
of  heaven  suffered  violence,  and  the  violent  took  it 
bv  force.  Tliat  verv  night,  and  before  he  left  the 
altar,  he  vras  redeemed  from  sin.  He  then  also 
gave  himself  to  the  Chm-ch  as  well  as  to  God.  A 
few  years  later  this  young  sailor  was  licensed  to 
preach ;  and  now,  for  many  years,  has  had  a  world- 
wide reputation  as  E.  T.  Taylor,  the  sailor  preacher 
at  the  Mariners'  Church  in  Boston. 

In  his  colleague  Mr.  Hedding  found  a  congenial 
spirit ;  and  though  greatly  disabled  by  disease,  he  re- 
joiced in  having  him  as  his  colleague.  Here  is  his 
record  concerning  him  : — "My  colleague.  Rev.  Elijah 
R.  Sabin,  was  a  first-rate,  excellent  man,  both  as  to 
piety  and  talents,  and  we  laboured  together  with  the 
greatest  harmony  and  love.  During  this  year  he 
T^as  elected  to  serve  as  chaplain  to  the  legislature. 
I  knew  him  well.  Our  acquaintance  commenced  in 
Vermont,  when  we  were  both  young  in  the  minis- 
try. He  experienced  religion  among  the  Baptists, 
and  commenced  as  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  for  .a  few  months.  About  that  time 
the  Methodists  came  into  the  part  of  Yermont  where 
he  lived.  He  heard  some  of  their  preachei'^,  and 
became  convinced  of  the  truth  of  their  doctrines,  and 
joined  them.  Soon  after,  he  went  out  as  an  itinerant 
preacher,  and  was  ever  beloved  as  a  pious,  talented, 
and  useful  preacher  among  us.    His  health  failing 


1812.J  FIKST   DELEGATED    GEN.    CONFEKENCE.  211 

him,  SO  that  he  was  iinable  to  do  the  duties  of  a  trav- 
elling preacher,  he  took  a  location  at  the  end  of  the 
year  after  we  were  stationed  together  in  Boston. 
He  then  removed  to  the  State  of  Maine,  were  he 
served  a  few  years  as  a  local  preacher ;  he  then  went 
to  the  south  to  recover  his  health,  but  he  died  at 
Augusta,  Georgia,  leaving  a  good  testimony  that  he 
had  gone  to  receive  a. glorious  reward." 

The  first  delegated  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  held  in  New- York 
city,  commencing  May  1st,  1812.  To  this  conference 
Mr.  Hedding  had  been  elected  by  the  suffi-ages  of  his 
brethren  of  the  i^^ew-England  Conference.  Owing 
to  its  being  the  first  delegated  General  Conference, 
it  was  regarded  with  unusual  interest  by  the  whole 
Church.  The  conferences  were  represented  as  follows, 
namely:  IS'ew-York,  thirteen;  New-England,  nine; 
Genesee,  six;  "Western, thirteen;  South  Carolina, nine ; 
Yirginia,  eleven ;  Baltimore,  fifteen ;  and  Philadel- 
phia, fom'teen  :  total,  ninety.  Several  new  measures 
were  proposed  for  the  action  of  this  conference ;  but 
none  created  greater  excitement,  or  occupied  more 
attention  of  the  conference,  than  an  effort  to  make 
presiding  elders  elective  by  the  conferences.  A  mo- 
tion to  this  effect  had  been  first  introduced  into  the 
General  Conference  of  1808,  and  was  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed by  the  ablest  men  in  that  body ;  but  it  was  de- 
cided in  the  negative,  by  a  vote  of  fifty-two  in  favour 
to  seventy-three  against  it.  The  measure  was  thus 
defeated  by  the  decisive  majority  of  twenty-one.  At 


212  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1812. 

this  session  of  tlie  General  Conference,  the  subject 
was  again  inti'oduced  by  a  motion  from  one  of  the 
IS'ew-York  delegates.  As  before,  it  elicited  a  great 
deal  of  discussion.  Able  and  eloquent  speeches  were 
made  both  for  and  against  it.  The  measure  was  again 
lost,  though  hj  a  decreased  majority, — forty-two  vot- 
ing in  its  favour,  and  forty-five  against  it ;  making 
a  majority  of  only  three.  It  appears  that  the  dele- 
gates from  the  Philadelphia,  ISTew-York,  and  Genesee 
Conferences  were  unanimous  in  its  favour.  The 
isTew-England  Conference  delegates,  we  believe,  were 
mostly  in  favour  of  it;  but  the  southern  delegates 
were  generally  united  in  opposition  to  the  measure. 

As  this  is  a  measure  with  which  Mr.  Hedding  has 
been  somewhat  associated,  it  will  be  proper  at  this 
point  to  present  the  different  stages  through  which  it 
passed,  till  it  received  its  quietus  at  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1828.  In  1816  the  subject  again  came 
before  that  body.  The  following  is  the  resolution 
upon  which  the  vote  of  the  conference  was  finally 
taken :  "  The  bishop,  at  an  early  period  of  the  annual 
conference,  shall  nominate  an  elder  for  each  district ; 
and  the  conference  shall,  without  debate,  either  con- 
firm or  reject  such  nomination.  If  the  person  or  per- 
sons so  nominated  be  not  elected  by  the  conference, 
the  bishop  shall  nominate  two  others  for  such  vacant 
district,  one  of  whom  shall  be  chosen ;  and  the  pre- 
siding elder  so  elected  and  appointed  shall  remain  in 
office  four  years,  unless  dismissed  by  the  mutual  con- 
sent of  the  bishop  and  the  conference :  but  no  pre- 


1812.]       THE   PKESIDING-ELDER   QUESTION.  213 


siding  elder  shall  be  removed  from  office  during  the 
term  of  four  years,  unless  the  reasons  for  such  removal 
be  stated  to  him  in  presence  of  the  conference,  which 
shall  decide  without  debate  in  his  case."  In  another 
paragraph  it  was  provided  that  the  presiding  elders, 
thus  selected,  should  form  a  council  to  assist  the  bishop 
in  stationing  the  preachers. 

Dr.  Bangs,  to  whom  we  are  mainly  indebted  for 
this  account,  says  "  Perhaps  a  greater  amount  of 
talent  was  never  brought  to  bear  on  any  question 
ever  brought  before  the  General  Conference,  than 
was  elicited  from  both  sides  of  the  house  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  this  resolution.  Some  of  the  speeches  were 
deep,  pungent,  and  highly  argumentative,  the  speak- 
ers throwing  their  whole  souls  into  the  subject,  and 
winding  themselves  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  impas- 
sioned eloquence,  often  concluding  with  a  tremendous 
appeal  to  the  understandings  and  consciences  of  their 
antagonists  ;  both  sides  invoking  the  future  prosperity 
of  the  Church  as  an  auxiliary  to  their  arguments." 
The  measure  was  finally  lost,  by  a  vote  of  thirty- 
eight  in  its  favour  to  sixty-three  against  it.  This  was 
the  heaviest  majority — twenty-five — as  yet  obtained 
against  it ;  and  the  question  was  thus  settled  for  the 
next  four  years. 

It  should,  however,  be  remarked  to  the  honour  of 
the  majority  of  that  body,  that  though  decided  in 
their  opinion  they  were  not  proscriptive ;  for  when 
they  came  to  the  election  of  bishops,  one  of  the  two 

**  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  330,  &c. 


214:  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1812. 

elected  was  well  known  to  be  in  favour  of  the  pro- 
posed change  in  the  mode  of  selecting  the  presiding 
elders. 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1820  the  measure 
was  again  brought  forward,  and  again  defeated. 
The  state  of  the  vote  in  this  case  we  have  not  the 
means  of  determining;  but  the  rejection  of  the 
measure  excited  so  much  feeling  that  a  committee 
of  six — ^three  in  favour  and  three  against  it — was 
appointed  to  confer  with  the  bishops,  and  to  report 
"  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  alterations  might  be 
made  to  conciliate  the  wishes  of  the  brethren  upon 
the  subject."  The  committee  were  Ezekiel  Cooper, 
Stephen  G.  Roszel,  I^'athan  Bangs,  Joshua  Wells, 
John  Emory,  and  William  Capers.  The  bishops 
were  William  M'Kendree,  Enoch  George,  and  Robert 
R.  Roberts.  Bishop  M'Kendree's  health  was  such 
that  he  was  unable  to  partici]3ate  in  the  deliberations 
of  the  committee.  After  conference  with  each  other, 
and  with  the  two  effective  bishops,  the  committee, 
with  the  concurrence  of  the  two  bishops,  unanimously 
recommended  to  the  conference  the  adoption  of  the 
following  provisions,  to  be  inserted  in  their  proper 
place  in  the  Discipline :  "1.  That  whenever  in  any 
annual  conference  there  shall  be  a  vacancy  or  vacan- 
cies in  the  office  of  presiding  elder,  in  consequence  of 
his  period  of  foui'  years  ha^ang  expired,  or  the  bishop 
wishing  to  remove  any  presiding  elder,  or  by  death, 
resignation,  or  otherwise,  the  bishop  or  president  of 
the  conference,  having  ascertained  the  number  wanted 


1812.]       THE   PKESIDING-ELDER    QUESTION.  215 


from  any  of  these  causes,  shall  nominate  three  times 
the- number,  out  of  which  the  conference  shall  elect 
by  ballot,  without  debate,  the  number  wanted ; — ^pro- 
vided, when  there  is  more  than  one  wanted,  not  more 
than  three  at  a  time  shall  be  nominated,  nor  more 
than  one  at  a  time  be  elected.  Provided,  also,  that 
in  case  of  any  vacancy  or  vacancies  in  the  office  of 
presiding  elder,  in  the  interval  of  any  annual  con- 
ference, the  bishop  shall  have  authority  to  fill  the 
said  vacancy  or  vacancies,  until  the  ensuing  annual 
conference.  2.  That  the  presiding  elders  be  and 
hereby  are  made  the  advisory  council  of  the  bishop 
or  president  of  the  conference  in  stationing  the 
preachers." 

This  report  was  submitted  to  the  General  Conference 
on  the  20th  of  May ;  and  after  some  little  conversation 
was  very  hastily  passed  by  that  body.  It  obtained  the 
decisive  vote  of  sixty-one  in  its  favour  to  twenty-five 
in  the  negative,  giving  a  clear  majority  of  thirty-six. 

It  was  now  supposed  that  this  question,  which  had 
so  long  agitated  the  Church,  was  finally  settled ;  and 
many,  both  friends  and  opponents,  congratulated 
themselves  that  they  had  now  attained  some  common 
ground  upon  which  they  could  rest.  These  congi-atula- 
tions,  however,  proved  rather  premature.  The  Rev. 
Joshua  Soule,  who  had  been  elected  to  the  episcopal 
office  on  the  13th,  declined  consecration  in  consequence 
of  this  action;  stating  to  the  conference  his  deep 
conviction  that  these  provisions  were  unconstitutional, 
and  as  a  bishop  he  could  not,  consistently  with  his 


216  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1812. 

views,  be  controlled  by  tbem.  To  add  to  tbe  per- 
plexity of  the  conference,  and  to  unsettle  the  minds 
of  the  members,  Bishop  M'Kendree,  three  days  after 
the  passage  of  the  resolutions,  came  to  the  conference 
room,  and,  "  after  assigning  sundry  reasons,  entered 
his  objections  against  them  as  unconstitutional,  and, 
as  he  apprehended,  subversive  of  the  grand  system 
of  an  efficient  and  general  superintendency  and 
itinerancy."  The  conference  had  perhaps  been  but 
little  affected  by  the  opposition  of  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Soule,  bishop  elect,  as  they  accepted  his  resignation, 
which  he  tendered  in  consequence  of  the  passage  of 
the  resolutions;  but  when  Bishop  M'Kendree — ^so 
justly  respected  in  consequence  of  his  long  and 
laborious  services,  his  age  and  experience — entered 
his  solemn  protest,  it  was  brought  to  a  dead  stand. 
The  more  experienced  thought  it  wise  to  pause  and 
reconsider  the  subject.  Many  who  had  originally 
favoured  the  measure,  or  been  subsequently  led  to 
countenance  it,  were  now  in  serious  suspense  in  re- 
spect to  its  expediency.  All  were  interested  in  the 
stability  and  prosperity  of  the  Church ;  and  the  sin- 
gular and  anomalous  state  of  things  produced  a  pro- 
found sensation.  The  conference,  however,  was  not 
prepared  to  retrace  its  steps,  and  the  effort  to  recon- 
sider the  obnoxious  resolutions  failed.  Finally,  it  was 
proposed  to  suspend  the  operation  of  these  rules  for 
four  years,  and  that  in  the  mean  time  the  government 
of  the  Church  should  be  administered  as  heretofore. 
At  the  subsequent  General  Conference  in  1824,  if  the 


1812.]  ME.    BEDDING'S   VIEWS.  217 

opponents  of  tlie  measure  were  not  strong  enongh  to 
secure  the  repeal  of  these  resolutions,  they  succeeded 
in  having  the  suspension  of  them  continued  another 
four  years.  At  the  end  of  this  time  they  were 
rescinded,  with  but  feeble  opposition ;  and  up  to  the 
present  time  the  subject  has  rarely  been  agitated  in 
the  Church. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  agitation  of  this 
subject,  Mr.  Hedding  had  been  in  favour  of  making 
the  presiding  elder's  office  elective  by  the  conference. 
He  was  among  the  advocates  of  the  measure  at  the 
General  Conference  of  1812  ;  and  continued  to  sustain 
it,  both  by  his  arguments  and  his  votes,  till  the  meas- 
ure was  carried  in  1820.  But  later  in  life  he  saw,  as  he 
believed,  good  reason  to  change  his  opinions  upon  tlie 
subject;  and  became  satisfied  that  the  perpetuity  of 
our  itinerancy  and  the  harmony  of  its  workings,  re- 
quired that  the  preachers  should  be  appointed  to  the 
presiding  eldership  by  the  same  authority  that  fixed 
their  appointments  in  the  circuits  and  stations.  ISTor 
was  he  alone  in  the  change  of  opinion.  Other  advo- 
cates of  that  measure,  as  they  advanced  in  years  and 
acquired  a  wider  experience,  discovered  reason  in  the 
workings  of  our  economy  to  change  their  ground.  It 
is  perhaps  owing  to  this  quiet  change  of  opinion  in  the 
old  advocates  of  the  measure — a  change  brought  about, 
not  by  discussion,  but  by  experience  and  observation 
with  regard  to  the  workings  of  our  economy — that 
the  subject  has  slumbered  so  quietly  for  over  thirty 
years. 


21&  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1812. 

A  short  time  before  his  death  Bishop  Hedding  put 
liis  views  upon  this  subject  on  record ;  and  though  it 
is  not  strictly  in  the  chronological  order  of  our  nar- 
rative, it  will  best  preserve  the  harmony  of  the  subject 
to  give  them  in  this  connexion.  That  record  was  made 
in  view  of  his  final  departure  from  the  Church,  and 
but  a  few  months  before  that  event  took  place.  It 
may,  therefore,  be  regarded  as  his  dying  testimony 
upon  this  point.  They  are  the  ripe  convictions  of  a 
long  life  of  varied  experience :  the  circumstances  under 
which  the  record  was  made  preclude  the  idea  that 
any  other  pui*pose  than  the  good  of  the  Church  and 
the  glory  of  God  could  have  prompted  it.  He  says : — 

"  There  is  one  point  in  our  economy  upon  which  I 
think  it  expedient  here  to  record  my  opinion. 

"The  time  was,  when,  with  many  others,  I  fully 
believed  that  the  election  of  presiding  elders  by  the 
annual  conferences,  and  making  those  presiding  elders 
an  efficient  council  with  the  bishops  to  fix  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  preachers,  would  be  an  improvement  on 
our  system,  and  a  benefit  to  the  itinerant  work ;  but 
observation  and  experience  haA^e  taught  me  that  I 
was  under  a  mistake. 

"The  majority  of  annual  conferences,  generally, 
have  not  sufficient  age  and  experience  to  judge  of  the 
qualifications  necessary  for  the  office  of  presiding 
elder ;  and  to  submit  the  appointment  of  that  office, 
so  frequently  as  such  appointments  must  be  made, 
to  an  election  in  an  annual  conference,  would  be  in- 
troducing and  perpetuating  a  spirit  of  electioneering, 


1812.] 


MR.    HEDDING'S  VIEWS. 


219 


and  of  party  strifes,  which  would  be  injurious  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  have  known 
instances,  when  men  were  proposed  for  presiding 
elders,  when  I  was  urged  by  many  members  of  the 
conference  to  appoint  them,  when  I  knew  that  majori- 
ties of  the  conferences  would  have  elected  them,  had 
they  power  to  do  it ;  when  I  knew  the  men  better  than 
tlie  conferences  knew  them ;  when  I  knew,  as  well  as 
I  could  know  a  thing  of  that  sort,  if  they  were  ap- 
pointed presiding  elders,  they  would  employ  the  influ- 
ence of  that  office,  not  for  the  benefit,  but  for  the 
injury  of  the  Church;  for  they  were  not  the  friends  of 
the  Church,  but  the  leaders  of  parties.  In  those  in- 
stances, my  judgment  and  my  conscience  forbade  my 
appointing  them.  I  suffered  reproach  and  persecu- 
tion for  so  doing ;  but  I  am  thankful  to  the  Head  of 
the  Church  that  he  afforded  me  an  influence  that  led 
me  to  do  as  I  did. 

"  I  have  known  enough  of  the  bad  effects  of  elec- 
tioneering, in  selecting  delegates  for  the  General 
Conference,  to  impress  deeply  on  my  mind  the  con- 
viction that  that  mode  of  appointing  presiding  elders 
would  not  be  a  benefit,  but  an  injury  to  the  Church. 
In  the  election  of  delegates  for  the  General  Conference, 
I  have  known  the  young  men  combined  to  prevent 
the  men  of  age  and  experience  from  being  elected, 
and  elect  young  men,  some  of  whom  imderstood  nei- 
ther the  doctrine  nor  discipline  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church ;  and  yet  these  were  the  men  to  appear 
at  General  Conference  and  make  rules  and  regulations 
10 


220  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1812. 

for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chrn-ch,  to  hear  and  try 
appeals,  and  even  to  judge  the  bishops.  Such  men 
would  sometimes  be  appointed  presiding  elders,  if  the 
conferences  had  power  to  elect  them. 

"  Further,  as  strong  reasons  can  be  offered  for  the 
people  to  have  the  right  of  electing  their  preachers 
and  their  class-leaders,  as  can  be  offered  for  the  elec- 
tion of  presiding  eldei*s ;  and  let  the  electing  business 
go  to  this  extent,  and  what  becomes  of  the  itinerancy^ 
and  of  the  moral  discipline  of  the  Church  ?  Will  it 
be  said  the  presiding  elder  has  so  much  power  over 
the  preachers  of  his  district  that  they  ought  to  have  a 
voice  in  electing  him?  The  same  would  be  said  by 
the  people  respecting  the  jDower  of  tlie  preacher  over 
them ;  for  notwithstanding  all  the  talk  that  has  been 
made  respecting  the  power  of  various  officers  in  our 
Church,  the  greatest  power  that  exists  among  these 
officers  is  in  him  who  acts  in  the  capacity  of  preacher 
in  charge." 

Another  question  arose  at  the  opening  of  the  session 
of  the  General  Conference  which  elicited  much  debate, 
and  which  Mr.  Hedding  advocated  as  a  wise  pruden- 
tial arrangement.  The  Xew-England  Conference  had 
appointed  reserve  delegates,  in  case  those  primarily 
appointed  should  be  prevented  from  attending.  One 
of  this  latter  class  was  unable  to  be  present,  and  the 
reserve  came  in  his  place.  As  no  other  conference  had 
appointed  reserves,  it  was  long  discussed  whether  the 
one  from  i^'ew-England  should  be  allowed  a  seat.  It 
was  finally  settled  to  admit  him,  and  it  was  afterward 


1812.] 


CONFEEENCE   AT  LYNN. 


221 


established  as  a  rule ;  and  the  several  conferences 
since  that  time  have  appointed  reserves  in  the  place 
of  others  nnable  to  attend. 

Of  the  membei*s  of  this  conference  few  survive. 
There  are  some,  however,  whose  names  are  like  house- 
hold words  in  the  Church.  Such  men  are  ]Slathan 
Bangs,  Aaron  Hunt,  and  Laban  Clark,  who  then  rep- 
resented the  JsTew-York  Conference ;  Joshua  Soule, 
Asa  Kent,  and  Daniel  "Webb,  then  of  the  l^ew- 
England  Conference;  David  Young,  then  of  the 
Western  Conference ;  Lovick  Pierce,  then  of  the 
South  Carolina  Conference ;  and  John  Early,  then 
of  the  Yirginia  Conference. 

Immediately  on  the  close  of  the  General  Conference, 
Mr.  Hedding,  with  his  co-delegates,  hastened  home  to 
attend  the  session  of  the  J^ew-England  Conference, 
which  commenced  on  the  20th  of  June,  at  Lynn.  It  was 
characterized,  as  were  most  of  the  conferences  of  that 
day,  by  peaceful  concord  and  strong  brotherly  love. 
The  portentous  cloud  that  had  been  lowering  in  the 
political  horizon  had  awakened  deep  solicitude,  and 
many  were  the  prayers  offered  that  God  would  avert 
the  threatened  storm.  This,  however,  could  not  avert 
the  evil.  War  against  Great  Britain  had  actually  been 
declared  on  the  18th ;  and  news  of  it  reached  Lynn 
not  long  after  the  assembling  of  the  conference.  Tliis 
caused  great  excitement  among  both  preachers  and 
people.  Many  of  them  regarded  war  as  utterly  and 
irreconcilably  opposed  to  the  gospel  of  peace;  and 
others  were  in  danger  of  drinking  in  the  spirit  of 


222  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1812. 

the  times  to  a  degree  that  would  seriously  peril  their 
Christian  character.  It  was  apprehended  that  parti- 
san feelings  would  be  aroused ;  that  still  more  severe 
temporal  embarrassments  would  be  experienced;  and 
above  all,  that  in  connexion  with  the  "  war  spirit,"  a 
reckless,  licentious  feeling,  and  a  depravation  of  public 
morals,  would  be  engendered ;  and  that  thus  the  great 
political  events  of  the  day  would  work  serious  injury 
to  the  cause  of  religion,  and  peril  the  souls  of  many 
men.  The  state  of  public  affairs  thus  became  a  sub- 
ject of  profound  and  absorbing  interest  in  the  con- 
ference. In  all  these  feelings  Mr.  Hedding  partici- 
pated in  an  unusual  degree.  Tlie  sufferings  he  had 
witnessed  and  tried  to  alleviate,  in  Boston,  during  the 
preceding  year,  he  regarded  as  premonitory  of  greater 
evils  now  certain  to  ensue. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  appointed  at  the  close  of  the 
conference  to  Xantucket.  So  far  as  we  can  gather 
from  the  scanty  documents  within  our  reach,  the 
society  in  this  place  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  George 
Cannon,  about  the  year  179T  or  1798.  Mr.  Cannon 
entered  the  travelling  ministry  in  1790,  and  after 
travelling  four  years  in  the  south,  came  to  reinforce 
the  work  in  Xew-England.  He  was  here  successively 
stationed  at  Orange,  Provincetown,  and  Marblehead, 
and  located  at  the  conference  of  1797.  Something 
of  Mr.  Cannon's  mettle  may  be  gathered  from  his 
ministry  in  Provincetown.  Soon  after  his  arrival 
there  as  the  stationed  preacher  he  took  measures 
for  the  erection  of  a  church.    The  lumber  for  that 


1812.1 


LABOURS    IN  NANTUCKET. 


223 


purpose  was  collected,  when  the  town-meeting" 
formally  voted  against  tlie  erection  of  a  Methodist 
church  in  the  town,  and  thus  so  obviously  invited  the 
wickedness,  that  the  rabble  took  the  hint,  and  not 
only  destroyed  the  lumber,  but  consumed  along  with 
it  a  tarred  and  feathered  effigy  of  the  minister.  The 
energy  of  the  pastor  of  the  society,  however,  was 
equal  to  the  emergency.  Xew  material  was  speedily 
procured;  the  new  temple  was  pushed  forward  to  its 
completion ;  and  in  about  four  months  they  entered  it 
with  songs  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  After  Mr. 
Cannon's  location  he  removed  to  Is  antucket,  where  as  a 
local  preacher  he  preached  with  considerable  success, 
and  succeeded  in  inti*oducing  Methodism.  The  pros- 
pect appearing  flattering,  he  applied  to  the  conference 
for  a  preacher ;  and,  in  1800,  the  Eev.  William  Beau- 
champ  was  sent  to  his  aid.  Mr.  Beauchamp  was  thus 
the  first  stationed  preacher  in  ITantucket.  He  had 
not  been  in  the  station  more  than  six  months  when  a 
society  of  between  seventy  and  eighty  members  was 
raised  up ;  and  before  he  left  it  a  large  and  com- 
modious church  was  erected.*  From  that  time  for- 
ward the  society  enjoyed  the  services  of  a  regularly 
stationed  preacher ;  and  among  the  predecessors  of 
Mr.  Hedding  were  Messrs.  Wm.  beauchamp,  Joshua 
Wells,  Joshua  Soule,  Truman  Bishop,  Joshua  Crowell, 
and  others  of  the  leading  men  of  the  conference. 

Having  noticed  the  introduction  and  prosperity  of 
Methodism  in  I^antucket,  it  will  be  well  for  us  to 
**  See  Methodist  Magazine  for  1825. 


224  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1812. 

recur  again  to  the  agent  of  its  introduction,  Mr.  Can- 
non, for  the  pur]30se  of  admonition  and  warning,  as 
well  as  for  the  sake  of  historical  truth.  The  author 
of  the  Memorials  of  Methodism  says  of  him,  that  "the 
abandonment  of  the  ministry  produced,  in  his  case, 
the  usual  results  of  such  deviations  from  duty:  he 
became  absorbed  in  secular  cares,  fell  into  doctrinal 
errors,  and  retired  from  the  Church.  Frequently,  in  his 
hoary  age,  might  this  once  useful  man  have  been  seen 
trembling  under  the  discourse  of  his  old  fellow-labour- 
ers, in  the  midst  of  the  Church  which  he  himself  had 
formed.  He  clung,  however,  to  his  errors — a  species 
of  Universalism — and  was  suddenly  summoned  to  his 
final  account ;  falling  backward, '  his  neck  broke,  and 
he  died.'"  What  a  sad  warning  to  those  who  are 
tempted  by  worldly  considerations  to  desist  from  the 
work  to  which  God  has  called  them  ! 

Immediately  on  the  close  of  the  conference,  Mr. 
Hedding  shipped  his  goods,  and  took  passage  on 
board  of  a  sloop  for  Xantucket,  hastening  his  departure 
in  order  to  escape  the  British  privateers  which  it  was 
expected  would  soon  be  scouring  along  the  coast. 
Though  isolated  from  the  mainland,  and  from  ready 
communication,  IvTantucket  was  one  of  the  "green 
spots"  in  the  conference.  "  We  had  scarcely  reached 
the  island,"  says  Mr.  Hedding,  "  before  we  were  re- 
ceived and  greeted  with  a  cordiality  and  manifested 
friendship  such  as  I  never  had  received  from  any 
other  place  to  which  I  had  been  appointed.  We 
were  immediately  taken  to  a  friend's  house,  and  while 


1812.]  LABOURS    IN    NANTUCKET.  225 

engaged  at  dinner  other  brethren  had  taken  our  goods 
out  of  the  sloop,  and  removed  them  to  the  house  pro- 
vided for  us,  and  set  them  up  in  order.  What  was 
lacking  in  furniture  was  suppHed,  and  also  a  good  stock 
of  groceries  provided ;  so  that  we  were  completely 
settled  in  the  parsonage,  with  all  the  conveniences  for 
house-keeping,  the  same  night."  How  cheering  such 
a  reception  to  the  minister  of  God,  as  he  goes  from 
a  society  endeared  to  him  by  mutual  sympathies,  to 
make  his  home  once  more  among  strangers !  How 
different  this  from  what  was  often  experienced  in  that 
early  day,  and  which  indeed  is  sometimes  experienced 
even  at  the  present  time,  when  the  preacher  would 
go  with  his  family  to  his  charge,  and  find  that  no  par- 
sonage had  been  provided,  and  no  one  was  interested 
to  provide  one;  and  also  that  no  brother's  door  was 
cordially  opened  to  give  them  even  a  temporary  home ! 
Such  are  the  receptions  that  chill  the  heart;  and, 
crushed  in  heart  by  them,  many  a  preacher  has  ex- 
claimed within  himself:  "Were  it  not  that  God  has 
called  me  to  preach,  I  would  instantly  located  I^o 
marvel  if  preachers  enduring  such  things  become 
dry  and  feeble.  The  fact  is,  all  the  sympathies  of  the 
heart  become  shocked  and  crushed ;  and  the  intellect 
is  not  only  cut  off  from  the  aliment  necessary  to  nour- 
ish and  invigorate  it,  but  it  is  dwarfed  by  the  neces- 
sity of  making  the  means  of  living  and  supporting  a 
family  a  daily  study  and  care. 

Tliis  year  was  one  of  great  excitement  among  the 
islanders  on  account  of  the  war.    The  British  ships 


226  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1812. 

of  war  and  privateers  were  often  in  sight;  and  it 
was  often  apprehended  that  they  would  land  and 
bum  the  village.  They  had  no  fort  for  their  de- 
fence, and  few  of  the  immitions  of  war;  and  were 
so  far  from  the  mainland  that  no  help  could  be  ex- 
pected from  it  in  an  emergency.  The  fears  of  the 
people,  however,  proved  groundless,  for  though  boats 
often  landed  from  these  cruisers,  it  was  only  to  get  sup- 
plies, and  these  they  paid  for ;  and,  in  fact,  the  people 
suffered  no  material  injury  during  the  whole  war,  ex- 
cept in  the  loss  of  their  vessels  taken  upon  the  "  high 
seas."  In  this  latter  respect  they  suffered  greatly. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  war  they  owned  over 
one  hundred  vessels — many  of  them  large  whale  ships. 
A  large  proportion  of  these  were  captured  or  destroyed 
dm'ing  the  war.  This  occasioned  incessant  anxiety 
for  friends  and  pro]3erty  exposed  to  the  enemy  upon 
the  gTcat  deep  ;  and  the  loss  of  their  vessels  occasioned 
great  pecuniary  embarrassment.  But,  compared  with 
what  Mr.  Hedding  had  witnessed  in  Boston  the  pre- 
ceding year,  they  suffered  nothing.  "  Notwithstand- 
ing," says  he,  "  the  terrors  about  the  war,  the  people 
of  Nantucket  appeared  to  me  to  be  a  community 
the  richest  and  happiest  I  had  ever  met  with.  A 
drunkard  or  a  pauper  was  a  creature  rarely  to  be 
seen.  On  one  occasion  I  asked  one  of  the  stewards 
if  they  did  not  make  a  collection  at  sacrament  for  the 
poor ;  and  he  replied,  '  No,  we  have  nobody  here  as 
poor  as  the  preachers;  we  give  all  we  can  raise  to 
the  preachers.' " 


1812.]  LABOURS    IN    NANTUCKET.  227 

The  Church  at  ITantucket  found  in  Mr.  Hedding 
just  the  man  that  the  exigences  of  its  condition 
required.  During  the  preceding  year  there  had  been 
gathered  into  it  a  large  number,  chiefly  young  per- 
sons, who  were  soon  found  to  be  unworthy  of  such  a 
relation.  Under  the  influence  of  a  remarkable  ex- 
citement, produced  by  extravagantly  bold,  noisy,  and 
violent  eflbrts  in  preaching  and  exhortation,  they  had 
united  with  the  Church  without  proper  instruction, 
and  without  giving  those  evidences  which  the  Disci- 
pline requires.  It  is  probable  the  greater  part  of 
them  were  never  converted.  Mr.  Hedding  had  full 
exercise  for  all  his  gifts  of  head  and  heart.  Some  of 
them  became  haughty,  proud,  and  dictatorial.  Some, 
when  the  excitement  died  away,  were  found  as 
worldly  and  careless  as  they  had  ever  been;  and 
others  had  to  be  arrested,  tried,  and  expelled  for 
gross  crimes.  In  fact,  a  large  portion  of  those  who 
joined  the  preceding  year  had,  in  some  form  or  other, 
to  be  made  subjects  of  discipline.  Among  them,  how- 
ever, were  a  few  instances  of  genuine  and  manifest 
piety.  Tor  this  difiicult  and  painful  duty  Mr.  Hed- 
ding was  eminently  fitted.  He  had  a  heart  to  sym- 
pathize with  the  ignorant  and  unfortunate,  and  a 
forbearance  and  patience  that  greatly  encouraged 
their  penitence  and  their  attempts  at  reformation; 
and  had  also  discrimination  and  decision  to  deal 
plainly  and  firmly  with  the  disobedient  and  stubborn. 
But  little  revival  took  place  this  year ;  it  was  chiefly 
devoted  to  pruning  and  sifting  the  unworthy  from  the 

10* 


228  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1812. 

good.  "Among  the  older  members  of  tlie  Church," 
he  says,  "  I  found  a  noble,  pious,  and  gifted  company, 
true  friends  and  supporters,  who  sustained  me  faith- 
fully in  the  difficult  work  of  administration  that  I  was 
often  compelled  to  discharge." 

In 'visiting  the  sick,  and  in  giving  them  counsel 
and  comfort,  he  had  a  superior  gift ;  and  in  no  depart- 
ment of  his  work  were  his  labours  more  appreciated. 
He  found  great  satisfaction  in  being  at  their  bedside, 
and  imparting  consolation  and  instruction  to  the  sick 
and  dying.  He  could  relate  instance  after  instance 
of  such  as  had  been  converted,  or  through  his  prayers 
had  been  greatly  consoled  and  strengthened,  while  up- 
on a  sick,  perhaps  a  dying  bed.  The  following  is  one 
that  transpired  while  he  resided  at  ^Nantucket.  He 
says :  "  During  this  year  I  became  acquainted  with  a 
young  married  lady  who  was  sick  with  consumption, 
and  whose  husband  was  at  sea.  She  was  well  edu- 
cated, and  in  all  respects  a  real  lady.  She  had 
usually,  when  in  health,  attended  the  Methodist 
meeting,  though  her  mother  was  a  Quakeress ;  and 
now  she  resided  with  her  mother.  I  visited  her  al- 
most daily  during  her  sickness  ;  and  she  was  brought 
under  deep  conviction  for  sin,  and  of  her  need  of  re- 
generating and  pardoning  grace.  I  conversed  with 
her,  and  prayed  with  her,  and  instructed  her  as  well 
as  I  knew  how ;  but  her  mother,  who  knew  nothing 
of  experimental  religion,  endeavoured  to  counteract 
everything  I  said  or  did.  She  would  often  address 
her  as  follows :  '  Daughter,  thou  need  not  weep 


1813.] 


LABOUKS    IN  NANTUCKET. 


229 


so  on  account  of  tliY  sins ;  tlion  need  not  be  so  afraid 
to  die.  Thee  has  always  been  good  from  a  child,  and 
always  kept  the  commandments ;  and  when  thee  dies, 
thy  Lord  will  receive  thee.  Therefore  dismiss  thy 
fears,  wipe  up  thy  tears,  and  quiet  thyself.'  But  the 
daughter  would  reply  ;  'Ah,  mother,  you  don't  know 
my  heart  as  I  know  it.  I  know  my  heart  is  sinful 
and  wicked,  and  in  the  sight  of  God  I  have  been  a 
great  sinner.  I  dare  not  die  as  I  am.  I  know  I  can- 
not get  to  heaven  as  I  am.  I  must  be  pardoned  and 
born  again  through  Jesus  Christ,  or  I  shall  go  to  hell.' 
Thus  she  continued  for  two  or  three  months.  At  last 
the  Lord  spoke  peace  to  her  soul ;  and  she  came  out 
as  clear  as  the  sun  without  a  cloud,  and  as  happy 
as  any  one  I  ever  saw,  delivered  from  the  fear  of 
death.  She  praised  God,  and  continued  in  the  light, 
without  a  doubt  or  a  fear,  for  two  or  three  weeks,  and 
died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  A  brighter  conversion 
I  never  witnessed." 

The  IS'ew-England  Conference  for  1813  had  been 
appointed  to  meet  at  I^Tew-London,  Connecticut ;  but 
as  several  British  ships  of  war  were  lying  near  the 
harbour,  and  it  was  expected  they  would  bombard 
and  take  the  place,  the  bishops  moved  the  seat  of  the 
conference  to  a  place  called  Salem,  about  twenty  miles 
northeast  of  New-London.  As  the  British  cruisers 
were  all  about  the  seas  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Nan- 
tucket, Ml'.  Hedding  found  it  exceedingly  difficult  to 
get  a  passage  off  the  island.  He  finally  succeeded, 
and  embarked  in  a  small  open  boat,  in  which  he  pro- 


230  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1813. 

ceeded  the  first  day  to  Holmes's  Hole,  Martha's  Yine- 
yard,  where  he  made  harbour  for  the  night.  The 
next  day  he  proceeded,  and  landed  safely  at  New- 
Bedford,  Massachusetts.  Thence  he  went  by  land 
through  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  to  the  seat  of  the 
conference.  Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree  were 
both  present,  and,  though  war  and  excitement  raged 
without,  the  session  of  the  conference  was  remarkable 
for  peace  and  quietness. 

Notwithstanding  the  deleterious  influence  which 
the  war  had  exerted  upon  the  morals  and  the  religion 
of  the  people  throughout  the  entire  bounds  of  the 
conference,  the  preachers  generally  brought  in  a  good 
report  concerning  the  condition  of  their  charges.  The 
war  spirit  had  not  extinguished  the  vital  spark  of 
religion  in  the  hearts  of  their  members ;  and  many 
places  had  been  favoured  with  excellent  revivals. 
There  were,  however,  but  two  new  charges  made 
within  the  bounds  of  the  entire  conference ;  and  upon 
the  aggregate  membership  there  was  a  decrease  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety-two.  Other  portions  of  the 
country  were  less  affected  at  this  stage  of  the  war ; 
and  the  returns  from  the  whole  Church  showed  an 
aggregate  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen  thousand 
three  hundred  and  seven  members,  and  six  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  preachers,  being  an  increase  of 
eighteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty  for  the 
year. 

During  this  year  one  of  Mr.  Hedding's  intimate 
friends  and  early  associates  in  the  ministry  died. 


1813.] 


THOMAS  BRANCH. 


231 


"We  allude  to  Thomas  Branch ;  and  we  specially  refer 
to  his  decease  here,  because  of  an  incident  that  con- 
nects Mr.  Hedding  with  the  account  of  his  last  hours, 
and  of  his  last  resting-place.  He  was  a  native  of 
Preston,  Connecticut,  and  is  reported  to  have  been 
altogether  a  noble  man.  He  joined  the  JS^ew-York 
Conference  with  Mr.  Hedding,  in  1801 ;  and  was  with 
him  transferred  to  the  New-England  Conference,  by  a 
change  of  conference  boundaries.  He  filled  important 
stations,  was  everywhere  a  popular  preacher,  and  was 
reported  by  his  preachers  to  be  the  hest  presiding 
elder  they  ever  Tcnew.  This  last  is  saying  a  great  deal, 
in  times  when  Elijah  Hedding,  Joshua  Soule,  G.  Pick- 
ering, Elijah  P.  Sabin,  and  John  Brodhead  were  in 
the  field.  His  health  had  failed  two  years  before ;  and 
he  had  been  placed  on  the  supernumerary  list  at  the 
conference  of  1811.  "Tlie  zeal  of  his  spirit,"  says  the 
author  of  the  Memorials  of  Methodism,  could  not 
be  checked  by  the  infirmities  of  the  body ;  he  had 
thoroughly  consecrated  himself  to  his  work,  and  was 
resolute  to  die  in  it.  Unable  longer  to  sustain  the 
inclemencies  of  the  climate  of  JSTew-England,  he  pro- 
posed to  go  to  the  southwest,  and  labour  while  his 
dwindling  strength  should  last  in  the  Western  Con- 
ference— the  only  conference  then  beyond  the  Alle- 
ghanies.  It  extended  from  Detroit  to  J^atchez,  and 
was  the  great  frontier  battle-field  of  Methodism,  where 
Cartwright,  Einley,  Young,  Blackman,  Winans,  Lakin, 
Quinn,  and  other  giant  men,  were  bearing  on  the  cross 
in  the  van  of  emigration,  and  travelling  vast  circuits, 


232 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1813. 


over  parts  of  which  they  had  to  be  protected  by 
escorts  of  armed  men.  ^Besides  the  various  choice  of 
climate  which  this  immense  field  afforded,  there  was,  to 
the  devoted  mind  of  Branch,  a  romantic  if  not  heroic 
atti'action  in  its  adventiii'ons  life,  and  the  triumph  with 
which  the  itinerant  ministry  was  spreading  the  truth 
in  its  wildernesses ;  for  though  it  had  been  organized 
only  about  twenty  years,  it  already  ranked  as  fourth 
in  numerical  strength  among  all  the  conferences,  and 
comprised  more  than  twenty-seven  thousand  mem- 
bers. Its  white  membership,  indeed,  was  larger  than 
that  of  any  other  conference."  In  this  vast  and  in- 
viting field  Branch  proposed  to  spend  the  remnant 
of  his  physical  strength.  Accordingly,  at  the  con- 
ference of  1812,  he  was  made  effective,  and  appointed 
{transfers  were  then  unknown)  to  Marietta,  in  the 
Muskingum  District,  with  David  Young. 

The  arrangements  for  his  departure  were  easily 
made,  and  on  horseback  he  started  for  his  new 
field  of  labour  in  the  west ;  but  this  field  he  never 
reached.  He  passed  along  through  the  western 
wilds  of  Xew-York,  travelling  and  preaching  as  his 
health  and  strength  permitted,  and  crossed  the  line 
into  Pennsylvania.  But  here  he  disaj)peared.  I^ews 
came  to  his  brethren  that  he  had  died  on  his  way ; 
but  when  or  where  he  died,  and  the  cii-cumstances 
of  his  death  were  not  known.  Only  vague  rumours 
concerning  his  fate  reached  his  brethren,  and  for 
fourteen  years  a  mystery  hung  over  the  subject.  In 
1826  Mr.  Hedding,  then  bishop,  to  whom  the  mem- 


1813.]  DEATH    OF   THOMAS    BRANCH.  233 

cry  of  his  early  associate  was  still  dear,  was  on  a  tour 
of  episcopal  visitation  to  the  west,  and  purposely  passed 
through  the  region  where  Thomas  Branch  had  been 
last  heard  from  in  1812,  and  made  inquiries  about 
him.  Tlie  result  of  these  inquiries  he  communicated 
to  the  Zion's  Herald,  in  which  paper  they  were  pub- 
lished during  that  year.  Writing  fi'om  Ohio,  he  says : 
"  He  fell  in  the  wilderness,  on  his  Avay  to  this  country 
in  the  month  of  June,  1812.  His  sepulchre  is  in 
the  woods,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  near  the 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  between  the  states  of  J^ew-York 
and  Ohio.  As  I  came  through  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try, I  made  inquiry  respecting  the  sickness,  death,  and 
burial  of  our  once  beloved  fellow-labourer  in  the 
cause  of  Christ.  An  intelligent  friend,  who  said  he 
had  frequently  visited  and  watched  with  him  during 
his  last  sickness,  and  attended  his  funeral,  gave  me, 
in  substance,  the  following  circumstances:  When 
brother  Branch  came  into  the  neighbourhood  where 
he  died,  it  was  a  new  settlement,  where  there 
was  no  Methodist  society,  and  but  few  professors 
of  religion  of  any  name.  He  preached  on  a  Sab- 
bath, and  at  the  close  of  the  service  stated  to  the 
strangers  that  he  was  on  a  journey;  that  he  was  ill 
and  unable  to  proceed;  and  desired  that  some  one 
would  entertain  him  till  he  should  recover  his 
strength  sufficiently  to  resume  his  journey.  There 
was  a  long  time  of  silence  in  the  congregation; 
at  last  one  came  forward  and  invited  him  home. 
At   that   house    he   lingered   many  weeks,  and 


231  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1813. 

finally  expired.  The  accommodations  were  poor  for 
a  sick  man :  a  small  log-house  containing  a  large 
family,  consisting  in  part  of  small  children ;  but 
doubtless  it  was  the  best  the  place  could  afford.  In 
his  sickness,  which  was  pulmonary  consumption,  his 
sufferings  were  severe ;  but  his  patience  and  relig- 
ious consolations  were  great  also.  He  frequently 
preached,  prayed,  and  exhorted,  sitting  on  his  bed, 
when  he  was  unable  to  go  out,  or  even  to  stand. 
And  so  he  continued  labouring  for  the  salvation  of 
men  while  his  strength  would  permit,  and  rejoiciug 
in  the  Lord  to  the  hour  of  his  death.  The  above 
named  eye  and  ear  witness  informed  me  that  brother 
Branch  frequently  said  to  him :  ^  It  is  an  inscrutable 
providence  that  brought  me  here  to  die  in  the  wil- 
derness.' *But,'  said  the  witness,  'that  providence 
was  explained  after  his  death :  for,  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  his  labours,  patience,  fortitude,  and 
religious  joys,  in  his  sickness,  a  glorious  revival  of 
religion  shortly  took  place,  a  goodly  number  of  souls 
were  converted  to  God,  other  preachers  were  invited 
to  the  place,  and  a  large  Methodist  society  was  organ- 
ized after  his  death.'  That  society  still  continues  to 
prosper,  and  they  have  now  a  decent  house  for  worship. 

"After  the  soul  of  our  brother  had  rested  in 
heaven,  his  body  was  conveyed  to  the  grave  on  a 
sled  dra^vn  by  oxen.  The  corpse  was  carried  to  a 
log  building  in  the  woods,  called  a  meeting-house ; 
but  the  proprietors  denied  admittance,  and  the  funeral 
ceremonies  were  performed  without.    As  I  came 


1813.] 


GKAVE    OF  BRANCH. 


235 


throngli  the  woodland  in  company  with  a  preacher, 
having  been  informed  where  the  place  of  onr  friend's 
interment  was,  leaving  our  horse  and  carriage  by  the 
road,  we  walked  some  rods  into  the  forest,  and  foimd 
the  old  log  meeting-honse,  which  had  refused  the  stran- 
ger the  rites  of  funeral ;  but  it  was  partly  fallen  and 
forsaken.  Then  following  a  narrow  path  some  dis- 
tance further  through  the  woods,  we  came  to  a  small 
opening,  which  appeared  to  have  been  cleared  of  the 
wood  for  a  habitation  for  the  dead.  After  walking 
and  looking  some  time,  a  decent  stone,  near  one  corner 
of  the  yard,  under  the  shade  of  the  thick-set  tall  forest, 
informed  us  where  the  body  of  our  dear  departed 
friend  had  been  laid.  A  large  oak-tree  had  fallen, 
and  lay  across  two  of  the  adjoining  tenants  of  that 
lonely  place.  We  kneeled,  prayed,  and  left  the 
lonely  spot,  in  joyful  hopes  of  meeting  our  brother 
again  at  the  resurrection  of  the  just.  The  associations 
of  the  place  caiTied  my  thoughts  back  to  the  north- 
ern parts  of  ]^ew-Hampshire  and  Yermont,  where, 
many  years  since,  I  had  ridden,  walked,  talked,  and 
prayed  in  company  with  Thomas  Branch. 

"Two  important  reflections  have  often  since  im- 
pressed my  mind.  One  is,  in  how  many  circumstances 
a  faithful  minister  of  Christ  may  be  useful — even  in  his 
most  severe  sufferings,  and  under  the  darkest  dispen- 
sations of  Providence  which  he  may  be  called  to 
endure.  Little  did  Thomas  Branch  think  that  the 
fruits  of  his  last  labom-s  and  sufferings  would  be  so 
abundant  after  his  death.    The  other  is,  how  much 


236  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1813. 

good  may  be  done  by  the  remembrance  of  the  vir- 
tues of  a  faithful  Christian  long  after  he  is  dead. 
The  memory  of  the  example  of  Thomas  Branch, 
revived  in  my  mind  by  visiting  his  grave,  has  been 
a  means  of  quickening  my  desires  to  live  as  he  lived, 
and  of  strengthening  my  hopes  of  finally  reaching 
that  heaven  to  which,  I, trust,  he  has  gone." 

While  this  sketch  will  show  how  tenderly  the  mem- 
ory of  Thomas  Branch  was  cherished  by  the  subject 
of  our  narrative,  it  will  also  exhibit  traits  in  the  char- 
acter of  Mr.  Hedding  that  commend  him  still  more 
strongly  to  our  Christian  confidence  and  sympathy. 
Tlie  following  extract  from  the  Conference  Minutes 
for  this  year  will  show  the  estimation  in  which  Thomas 
Branch  was  held  by  his  brethren:  "An  Israeh'te  in- 
deed, in  life  and  in  death.  Who  ever  saw  him  out 
of  the  gravity  and  sincerity  of  a  Christian  minister  ? 
always  apparently  collected  and  recollected ;  a  child 
of  affliction  and  a  son  of  resignation :  how  loved  and 
honoured  of  God  and  men!  Rest,  rest, weary  dust! 
Rest,  weary  spirit,  with  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live 
forever!"  Can  we  wonder  that  such  purity  of  char- 
acter, such  sincerity  of  devotion,  should  have  left  be- 
hind them  a  memory  fragrant  with  heavenly  perfume  ? 
It  seemed  a  hard  fate  that  left  him  to  die,  almost 
unfriended  and  alone ;  and  many  an  eye  has  moist- 
ened with  heart-felt  sorrow  at  his  lonely  and  suff'er- 
ing  end ;  but,  blessed  be  God !  the  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness now  shines  with  undimmed  lustre  upon  his  soul 
in  that  house  where  there  are  "  many  mansions." 


1813.] 


STATIONED   IN  LYNN. 


237 


At  the  close  of  this  conference  Mr.  Hedding  was 
appointed  to  Lynn,  in  connexion  with  Daniel  Webb. 
There  were  two  appointments  in  Lynn,  and  each  was 
placed  under  the  charge  of  a  preacher,  Mr.  Hedding 
having  charge  of  the  Lynn  Common  Church.  Tlie 
arrangement  was  for  them  to  exchange  once  on  each 
Sabbath. 

After  conference  Mr.  Hedding  returned  to  ITan- 
tucket  for  his  family  and  goods.  But,  owing  to  the 
hazard  of  a  voyage  around  Cape  Cod  to  Boston,  on 
account  of  the  British  ships  of  war,  so  frequent  in 
those  parts,  he  was  compelled  to  embark  with  his 
wife  and  goods  in  a  sloop  for  Hyannis,  a  place  nearest 
on  the  outer-side  of  the  cape ;  thence  he  crossed  to 
Barnstable,  and  passed  from  thence  in  a  sloop  to  Bos- 
ton, and  thence  to  Lynn. 

Although  stationed  in  one  of  the  best  societies  of 
the  conference,  the  war  continuing  to 'rage  during  the 
year,  made  it  a  very  laborious,  suffering  time.  The 
business  of  the  place  was  poor.  The  congregations 
were  frequently  broken  up  by  the  sight  of  a  British 
cruiser  near  the  place.  Sometimes  the  people  were 
aroused  and  alarmed  in  the  night  from  the  fear  of 
danger.  Every  article  of  provision  was  at  an  exorbi- 
tant price.  The  bread  they  ate  was  brought  by  land 
from  Philadelphia.  They  were  compelled  to  pay  six- 
teen dollars  a  barrel  for  flour,  and  much  distress  was 
experienced  by  the  people.  Such  a  state  of  things 
made  it  a  year  very  unfavourable  to  religion  and  to 
revival  influences  throughout  the  country ;  but  it  was 


238  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1813. 

especially  so  at  Lynn,  because  the  place  Tvas  pecu- 
liarly exposed,  i^otwithstanding  all  these  hinder- 
ances  Mr.  Hedding  continued  at  his  post,  preaching, 
visiting  the  people,  and  by  his  exhortations  encour- 
aging them  to  attend  to  all  their  duties.  Perhaps 
almost  any  other  society  would  have  been  worse 
affected  than  the  one  at  Lynn.  It  was  the  first 
formed  by  Jesse  Lee  in  his  tour  to  the  east,  more  than 
twenty  years  before,  and  the  first  Methodist  society 
in  Massachusetts.  It  embraced  some  of  the  first  citi- 
zens of  the  place  for  respectability  and  means.  It 
had  but  few  backslidei-s,  and  its  members  were 
remarkable  for  strict  attendance  to  all  their  religious 
duties.  Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  his  labours, 
and  the  trials  and  sufferings  of  the  people  of  Lynn, 
Mr.  Hedding  found  many  enjoyments  during  the' 
year.  His  faithfulness  in  all  his  ministerial  duties 
much  endeared  him  to  the  people ;  and  their  stead- 
fastness in  their  religious  profession  much  endeared 
them  to  him.  In  fact,  during  this  and  the  subsequent 
year  he  formed  many  attachments  that  continued  and 
strengthened  until  the  most  of  them,  as  weU  as  him- 
self, had  passed  to  the  Church  above.  To  this  day 
many  of  the  most  active  members  of  the  Churches  in 
Lynn  are  found  among  those  who  were  baptized  by 
him  during  this  period  of  his  labours. 

Mr.  Hedding  considered  himself  highly  favoured 
in  the  colleague  with  whom  he  laboured.  Daniel 
Webb,  who  was  two  years  his  senior  in  the  ministry, 
and  who  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age :  in  fact, 


1814.] 


RETURNED   TO  LYNN. 


239 


he  is  now  tlie  oldest  effective  travelling  preacher  in 
the  world — ^his  ministry  having  extended  through 
the  period  of  fifty-seven  years.  His  talents  as  a 
preacher  were  much  above  mediocrity.  In  his  dis- 
courses he  was  clear,  methodical,  and  earnest.  In 
his  intercourse  with  his  people  he  was  social  and 
agreeable,  and  was  pious  and  active  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  his  duties.  He  had  previously  filled, 
and  has  since  continued  to  fill,  appointments  in 
many  of  the  prominent  Churches  in  the  conference. 
Mr.  Hedding  retained  with  great  satisfaction,  to  the 
end  of  life,  a  pleasing  remembrance  of  the  intimate 
friendship  established  with  Mr.  Webb  during  this 
year. 

The  efi*ects  of  the  war  upon  the  progress  of  religion 
were  now  beginning  to  be  somewhat  realized.  The 
]N'ew-England  Conference  again  returned  a  decrease 
of  membership,  which  this  year  amounted  to  two 
hundred  and  seventy-four.  In  the  whole  Church 
there  was  a  decrease  of  three  thousand  one  hundred 
and  seventy-eight,  leaving  the  total  membership 
two  hundred  and  eleven  thousand  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine;  and  six  hundred  and  eighty-seven  preach- 
ers, being  an  increase  of  nine. 

The  Kew-England  Conference  for  1814  met  at 
Durham,  Maine,  and  Mr.  Hedding  was  returned  to 
Lynn.  He  had  for  his  colleague  the  Eev.  Leonard 
Frost. 

For  about  eight  months  of  this  year  his  labours 
were  much  the  same  as  the  past ;  nor  was  the  condi- 


24:0 


LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF  HEDDIXG. 


[1814. 


tion  of  the  society  in  Lynn  mucli  altered  from  what 
it  had  been  the  j)i'eceding  year.  The  excitement 
occasioned  by  the  war,  and  the  attendant  pecmiiary 
embarrassments  and  snfferings,  still  engrossed  the 
thoughts  of  the  people.  What  made  these  embarrass- 
ments the  more  vexations  to  the  people  was,  that  many 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts,  especially  in  the 
maritime  towns,  were  opposed  to  the  war.  During 
the  month  of  February,  1815,  the  news  reached  Lynn 
of  the  conclusion  of  peace  between  England  and  the 
United  States,  and  created  a  time  of  general  rejoic- 
ing. But  what  was  cause  of  increased  rejoicing  to  Mr. 
Hedding,  as  well  as  to  the  Church  in  that  place,  was 
a  great  work  of  revival  which  commenced  about  the 
same  time.  He  had  been  labouring  for  more  than  a 
year  and  a  half,  and  though  generally  the  Chm-ch 
maintained  a  walk  consistent  with  their  profession  in 
such  troublous  times,  he  had  found  but  few  seriously 
inquiring  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved :  still  he 
laboured  in  hope,  and  did  not  labour  in  vain.  About 
this  time,  on  a  Sabbath  evening,  he  preached  a  ser- 
mon from,  "  He  that,  being  often  reproved,  hardeneth 
his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that  with- 
out remedy."  It  proved  a  word  in  season  to  one  of 
his  hearera.  A  young  woman  present  was  deeply 
impressed  by  the  truth,  and  in  a  short  time  was  con- 
verted. From  this  the  work  spread  rapidly,  and  a 
number  more  were  soon  rejoicing  in  the  Lord.  Soon 
after  this  sermon  was  preached  a  woman  died,  and  he 
was  called  to  preach  her  funeral  sermon.    Her  hus- 


1814.] 


DETAINED   FROM  CONFERENCE. 


241 


band  requested  that  it  might  be  written,  and  read  to 
a  few  friends.  While  hearing  it  read,  a  number  of 
them  were  awakened,  and  soon  after  converted.  This 
revival  continued  up  to  the  time  of  the  next  session 
of  the  conference,  and  such  was  its  interest,  at  that 
time,  that  Mr.  Hedding  did  not  feel  himself  at  liberty 
to  leave  to  attend  that  conference.  Much  as  he 
prized  these  annual  sessions,  as  favourable  oppor- 
tunities to  perpetuate  and  strengthen  his  attachment 
to  his  brethren,  he  still  felt,  that  while  God  T^as  gra- 
ciously outpouring  his  Spirit  upon  the  people,  "his 
servant  should  stand  by  and  watch  the  offering  and 
feed  the  sacrifice:"  an  evidence  that  he  considered 
the  salvation  of  souls  of  first  importance. 


242 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


L1815. 


CHAPTEE  Ym. 

LABOmS  IN  BOSTON,  PORTLAND,  LYNN,  AND  NEW- 
LONDON. 

Conference  of  1815  —  Bishop  Asbury  —  His  Feebleness  —  Subsequent  La- 
bours—  Death  —  Conference  Business  —  Mr.  Hedding  elected  Delegate 
to  the  General  Conference  —  Stationed  in  Boston  —  Daniel  Fillmore, 
his  Colleague — Their  mutual  Attachment  —  An  Amusing  Anecdote, 
or  "Shallow  Preaching"  —  State  of  Religion  in  the  City — Niece  of 
Hancock  converted  —  General  Conference  of  1816 — Session  of  the 
New-England  Conference  at  Bristol  —  Mr.  Hedding  and  his  Colleague 
returned  to  Boston  —  Debt  on  the  Churches  —  Noble  and  Successful 
EflFort  to  liquidate  it  —  A  Bequest  to  the  Churches  —  Methodism  plant- 
ed in  Dorchester  —  Also  in  Charlestown  —  Prosperity  in  Boston  —  Con- 
ference in  1817 — Progress  of  Methodism  —  Stationed  in  Portland  — 
State  of  the  Society — Conference  in  1818  —  Mr.  Hedding  in  Lynn  — 
Member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1820  — Stationed  in  New-London 
—  Disorganized  Condition  of  the  Society  —  Character  and  End  of  the 
Disorderly  —  Health  fails  —  Pveaches  Conference. 

The  conference  met,  June,  1815,  at  TJnitj,  Isew- 
Hampshire.  It  was  attended  by  the  venerable 
Asburj.  This  was  liis  last  visit  to  I^ew-England ; 
before  its  next  session  he  had  ceased  from  his  labours 
and  gone  to  his  reward.  He  landed  in  this  country 
on  the  2Tth  of  October,  1771,  having  been  then  ten 
years  in  the  ministry,  though  but  a  little  over  twenty- 
six  years  of  age.  His  first  sermon  in  this  country 
was  preached  in  Kew-York  on  Tuesday,  the  13th  of 
Xovember  following.  At  the  General  Conference  of 
1784  he  and  Dr.  Coke  were  unanimously  elected 
superintendents  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  America. 


1816.] 


BISHOP  ASBURY. 


243 


He  therefore  exercised  the  episcopal  office  nearly  thir- 
ty-two years — making  the  entire  period  of  his  effective 
ministry  nearly  fifty-five  years.    He  was  altogether 
an  extraordinary  man,  and  in  labours  he  was  abund- 
ant.   In  his  great  work  on  this  continent  he  trav- 
elled, mainly  on  horseback  or  in  a  sulky,  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  miles,  regarding  neither 
the  summer's  heat  nor  the  winter's  cold.   He  preached 
nearly  eighteen  thousand  sermons,  presided  at  more 
than  two  hundred  conferences,  and  ordained  probably 
more  ministers  than  any  other  man  ever  did.  Though 
pressed  by  age  and  infirmity,  and  often  solicited  by 
his  friends  to  lighten  his  labours,  his  zeal  would 
never  permit  him  to  rest ;  and  he  toiled  on,  travelling 
and  preaching  till  within  a  few  days  of  his  death. 
At  this  session  of  the  Kew-England  Conference  he 
appeared  to  be  literally  worn  out.    He  was,  to  a  great 
extent,  unable  to  be  present  in  the  sessions  of  the 
conference ;  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty,  such 
1     were  his  bodily  infirmities,  that  he  could  go  through 
the  usual  public  ordination  services.    But  we  still 
find  him  prosecuting  his  work  with  indomitable 
I     energy  of  spirit,  travelling  south  as  far  as  to  South 
1     Carolina  and  visiting  the  annual  conferences.  In 
j    South  Carolina  he  contracted  an  infiuenza.    This  was 
!     about  the  last  of  December,  and  was  attended  with 
I    an  entire  loss  of  appetite  and  the  formation  of  ulcers 
upon  his  lungs.    His  already  worn-out  constitution 
rapidly  yielded  under  this  fatal  disease.    His  indom- 
itable energy  of  spirit  and  his  zeal  for  the  cause  were 

11 


244  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1815. 


however  unabated ;  and  he  continued  by  slow  stages 
to  make  his  way  north,  hoping  to  be  able  to  meet 
the  General  Conference  which  was  to  assemble  in 
May,  in  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

He  at  length  reached  Kichmond,  Virginia,  where 
he  preached  his  last  sermon  on  Sunday,  March  the 
24th.  His  friends  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him,  on 
account  of  his  extreme  weakness,  from  attempting  to 
preach ;  but  he  was  anxious  once  more  to  bear  his 
testimony  in  that  place.  He  was  carried  from  his 
carriage  to  the  pulpit,  where  in  a  sitting  posture  he 
spoke  nearly  an  horn*  with  much  feeling  and  effect, 
though  frequently  compelled  to  pause  to  recover  his 
breath.  His  text  Avas :  "  For  he  will  finish  the  work, 
and^  cut  it  short  in  righteousness  ;  because  a  short 
work  wdll  the  Lord  make  upon  the  earth."  Romans 
ix,  28.  Both  the  subject  and  the  discourse  were 
appropriate  to  the  impressive  scene.  After  the  ser- 
mon, he  was  again  carried  from  the  pulpit  to  his  car- 
riage, and  taken  to  his  place  of  rest.  Notwithstand- 
ing he  was  evidently  in  the  very  last  stages  of  disease 
and  liable  to  die  at  any  hour,  we  find  him  on  Tues- 
day, Thursday,  and  Friday  still  travelling  toward  the 
seat  of  the  General  Conference.  On  Friday  night 
he  reached  the  house  of  an  old  friend,  twenty  miles 
from  Fredericksburg.  The  next  morning  it  was 
observed  that  he  had  passed  a  night  of  great  bodily 
suffering.  His  travelling  companion,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Bond,  proposed  to  send  for  a  physician,  but  he 
declined  having  one  called,  observing  that  liis  breath 


1816.] 


STATIONED    IN  BOSTON. 


245 


would  be  gone  before  the  doctor  could  get  there. 
He  however  survived  till  the  next  day.  A  short  time 
before  he  died,  his  speech  failed.  After  this,  observ- 
ing the  agony  of  his  travelling  companion,  "he 
raised  his  hand  and  looked  joyfully  at  him;"  thus 
expressing  what  language  now  failed  to  communicate. 
"  Brother  Bond  then  asked  him  if  he  felt  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  to  be  precious.  He  seemed  to  exert  all 
his  remaining  strength,  and  raised  both  his  hands  as 
a  token  of  triumph."  In  a  few  minutes  after  this  he 
expired.  Asbury  sustains  very  much  the  same  rela- 
tion to  American  Methodism  that  Wesley  does  to  the 
same  cause  in  the  British  nation ;  and  his  name  will 
never  cease  to  be  venerated  in  the  Church  of  God. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  feebleness  of  Mr. 
Asbury  at  the  session  of  the  ISTew-England  Confer- 
ence,* which  rendered  him  unable  to  preside  over  its 
deliberations.  The  business  of  the  conference,  how- 
ever, proceeded  with  usual  harmony  and  despatch. 
At  this  conference  twelve  delegates  to  the  General 
Conference  were  elected ;  and  we  find  the  name  of 
Mr.  Hedding  third  upon  that  list.  At  the  close  of 
the  conference  he  was  stationed,  the  second  time,  in 
Boston,  with  the  Rev.  Daniel  Fillmore  as  his  col- 
league. Of  this  colleague  Mr.  Hedding  says :  "  He 
was  a  good  man,  a  good  preacher,  a  good  pastor,  and 
a  good  colleague."  Indeed,  the  mutual  attachment 
that  was  formed  between  these  two  ministers  was 
as  lasting  as  it  was  sincere.  Their  personal  corre- 
spondence, which  was  continued  down  to  the  last  year 


246  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1815. 

of  Mr.  Hedding's  life,  gives  striking  evidence  of  the 
strength  and  sincerity  of  their  attachment.  As  late 
as  1849,  Mr.  Hedding,  after  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Fillmore,  says :  "  I  was 
truly  glad  to  receive  such  a  letter  from  my  old,  tried 
friend  and  colleague.  I  am  thankful  for  the  blessings 
of  God  upon  you  and  your  family.  It  is  especially  a 
blessing  to  you,  that  now  at  the  age  of  threescore, 
you  enjoy  so  good  health.  When  I  read  your  ap- 
pointment to  the  place  you  now  occupy,  I  was  afraid 
you  were  crowded  into  a  poor  comer ;  but  I  should 
judge  from  your  letter  it  must  be  a  pleasant  appoint- 
ment, where  you  have  a  good  prospect  of  being 
greatly  useful.  What  you  say  of  oar  passing  away, 
and  soon  to  be  in  the  spirit-world,  following  Pick- 
ering, Steele,  Merrill,  and  others,  impresses  me 
deeply,  from  day  to  day  and  from  night  to  tiight; 
and  I  am  striving  and  hoping  to  be  ready  to  follow 
them  to  the  world  of  rest." 

Two  years  later,  while  suffering  from  that  disease 
which  finally  terminated  his  useful  career,  he  says: 
"  We  have  had  many  blessed  seasons  together.  I 
believe  since  the  day  I  first  knew  you,  in  the  year 
1811,  there  has  been  nothing  between  us  contrary  to 
brotherly  love.  And  I  trust  we  shall  live  forever  in 
another  and  a  better  world." 

Of  their  ministry  in  Boston,  Mr.  Fillmore,  in  subse- 
quent years,  was  accustomed  to  narrate  the  following 
rather  amusing  anecdote.  As  was  the  custom  of  the 
times  in  ^city  circuits,  they  followed  each  other  sue- 


1816.] 


DANIEL  FILLMORE. 


247 


cessively  around  the  different  cliurclies.  The  great 
reputation  and  popular  talent  of  Mr.  Hedding  occa- 
sioned many  to  follow  him  from  church  to  church. 
The  difference  between  his  congregations  and  those 
of  his  colleague  was  quite  perceptible.  On  one  occa- 
sion, when  a  portion  of  Mr.  Fillmore's  congregation 
had  been  drawn  away  to  hear  their  popular  preacher, 
leaving  his  house  rather  thin,  a  good  sister  came  up 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting  to  comfort  her  minister. 
She  assured  him  that  she  had  no  disposition  to 
run  after  his  colleague  with  the  multitude.  "  True," 
said  she,  "he  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  deej^ 
preacher;  but,  for  my  part,  I  like  shallow  preaching.^'' 
Mr.  Fillmore,  with  illy-regulated  risibles,  thanked 
the  good  sister  for  her  sympathy ;  but  whether  he  en- 
joyed the  narration  of  the  anecdote  then,  as  well  as 
he  did  afterward,  when  his  character  and  reputation 
were  more  firmly  established,  may  admit  of  a  doubt. 
Mr.  Fillmore  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  conference 
in  1811.  It  is  no  small  compliment  to  his  talents  as 
a  minister,  that  in  the  third  year  of  his  ministry  he 
was  stationed  as  preacher  in  charge  in  the  city  of 
Portland ;  and  in  the  fourth  year  in  Boston,  as  the 
colleague  of  Hedding.  To  the  same  charge  and  in 
the  same  relation  he  was  returned  a  second  year; 
and  from  that  time  forward  continued  to  fill  many  of 
the  most  important  appointments  in  his  conference, 
between  thirty  and  forty  years,  till  the  growing 
infirmities  of  age  compelled  him  to  retire  from  the 
effective  ranks. 


248  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1815. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  had  now  passed  since  Jesse 
Lee  first  opened  his  mission  under  the  great  elm-tree 
on  Boston  Common.  During  all  this  period  Method- 
ism had  been  sti*uggling  for  existence  in  Boston,  and 
its  progress  had  been  exceedingly  slow,  and  in  the 
face  of  obstacles  rarely  encountered  elsewhere.  Uni- 
tarianism  exerted  a  controlling  influence,  embracing 
the  wealth  and  fashion  of  the  city,  and,  consequently, 
experimental  piety  was  held  in  doubtful  repute. 
Many  excellent  members  had  been  gathered  into  the 
Church, — men  and  women  sincerely  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  whose  spirit  and  life  were  an 
honour  to  the  Christian  name.  But  in  worldly 
resources  they  were  limited, — the  great  portion  of 
them  being  poor,  and  few  if  any  among  them  that 
could  be  called  rich.  They  were  regarded  as  intrud- 
ers, and  their  professions  of  faith  in  Christ  set  down 
to  the  score  of  enthusiasm  or  fanaticism.  The  dignity 
of  Mr.  Hedding's  carriage,  the  amiability  of  his  man- 
ner, and  the  strength  and  power  of  his  ministry, 
attracted  to  the  Methodist  Church  many  persons  of 
a  high  order  of  intelligence,  and  also  of  high  social 
position. 

During  the  year  he  received  into  the  Church  a 
lady,  who,  from  the  circumstances  of  her  conversion, 
and  from  her  subsequent  connexion  with  the  Church, 
is  w^orthy  of  special  notice.  The  incident  also  gives 
us  some  insight  into  the  state  of  religion  in  the 
Church  then  exerting  by  far  the  widest  influence  of 
any  in  the  city.    It  should  be  recorded  also  because 


1815.]     A   NIECE   OF   HANCOCK    CONVERTED.  249 

of  the  light  it  sheds  upon  the  character  of  Mr.  Hedding 
as  a  pastor,  and  also  upon  his  rigid  adherence  to  the 
Methodist  Discipline  and  usages.  Let  us  take  the 
account  as  we  have  it  from  his  OAvn  lips:  "Some  time 
during  the  year,  a  lady  came  to  my  house,  and  re- 
quested religious  conversation  with  me.  She  was  the 
niece  of  Governor  Hancock.  She  said  that  she  was  a 
member  of  a  Unitarian  Church,  but  that  she  had 
never  experienced  religion  until  lately ;  nor  had  she 
until  lately  any  true  ideas  of  experimental  religion. 
She  had  recently  read  a  volume  of  Wesley's  Sermons, 
which  belonged  to  a  servant  girl  in  her  house,  into 
which  she  had  first  looked  from  curiosity ;  but  as  she 
continued  to  read,  they  brought  her  to  a  sense  of  her 
sins  and  danger,  and  gave  her  a  knowledge  of  the  way 
of  salvation,  and  ultimately  led  her  to  the  experience 
of  that  religion  that  Mr.  Wesley  taught.  She  said 
that  she  had  found  it  necessary  to  leave  the  Unitarian 
meeting,  as  they  had  brought  in  a  new  version  of  the 
Testament,  and  read  it  in  the  Church,  and  their  preach- 
ing was  not  profitable  to  her  soul ;  that  on  the  preced- 
ing Sabbath  she  went  to  an  orthodox  Congregational 
meeting,  but  when  she  arrived,  perceiving  that  the 
pastor  was  absent,  and  another  minister  in  the  pulpit 
whom  she  did  not  care  to  hear,  the  left  the  meeting 
before  the  service  commenced,  with  the  intention  of 
returning  home.  Her  way  home  led  her  by  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Bromfield  Lane.  She  said  to 
herself,  '  I  will  go  in  here  and  see  if  they  preach  as 
Wesley  did.'    She  went  in  and  took  her  seat,  and 


250  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1815. 

before  the  service  was  through  she  thought,  This  is 
Wesley's  meeting,  and  this  preaching  [Mr.  Hedding 
preached  on  that  occasion]  is  according  to  Wesley's 
preaching;  and  here  I  will  join,  if  they  will  receive 
me.  '  And  now,'  said  she,  ^  I  have  come  to  offer  my- 
self as  a  member  of  your  Church.'  She  told  me  her 
name  and  residence,  and  referred  me  to  a  number 
of  respectable  persons,  of  whom  I  could  inquire 
respecting  her  character.  I  explained  to  her  our 
mode  of  receiving  members,  and  told  her  we  should 
have  a  meeting  the  next  Sabbath  for  that  purpose ; 
that  I  would  inquire  respecting  her  character,  and  if 
I  found  it  satisfactory  would  introduce  her  case  to  the 
Church,  if  she  would  be  present  at  that  time.  I  told 
her  also,  '  I  perceive  you  are  very  splendidly  dressed, 
but  we  hold  to  plain  dress,  and  our  members  gen- 
erally observe  it;  and,  if  you  join  the  Methodists, 
you  will  have  to  lay  aside  that  gay  dress.'  She  said, 
'  I  know  it,  and  I  intend  to  do  it.  I  have  read  your 
Discipline,  and  I  intend  to  conform  to  it.'  After  this 
conversation  she  left ;  and,  accordingly,  on  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath  she  came  to  the  church  dressed  as  plain 
and  as  neat  as  ever  Methodist  women  were  required 
to,  and  was  received  on  probation  in  the  Church. 
Soon  after  this  she  buried  her  husband;  but  she  lived 
for  some  years  after  his  decease,  as  devout,  pious, 
uniform,  and  rational  a  Christian  as  I  ever  knew,  and 
died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  After  her  death  it  was 
found  that  she  had  left  in  her  will  $2,000  to  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Boston,  to  be  funded,  and  the 


1816.]  THE   GENERAL   CONFEEENCE.  251 


interest  to  be  paid  forever  to  the  poorest  members  of 
the  Church;  and  $500  for  brother Tillmore,  and  $500 
for  myself.  Respecting  Wesley,  this  was  an  example 
of  the  Scriptm-e  truth,  'He  being  dead  yet  speaketh.'" 

In  the  spring  of  1816  Mr.  Hedding  attended  the 
General  Conference,  which  met  in  the  city  of  Bal- 
timore. It  was  composed  of  delegates  from  the 
annual  conferences,  as  follows,  namely;  IS'ew-York, 
sixteen ;  IsTew-England,  twelve ;  Genesee,  ten ;  Ohio, 
nine  ;  Tennessee,  six ;  South  CaroHna,  fom*teen ;  Yir- 
ginia,  ten;  Baltimore,  fourteen;  and  Philadelphia, 
thirteen.  Bishop  Asbury,  the  great  apostle  of  Meth- 
odism, was  no  longer  with  them.  Mr.  Hedding  men- 
tions, with  profound  feeling,  the  deep  sense  of  loss  the 
absence  of  Asbury  created  in  their  council. 

Kothing  special  took  place  at  this  General  Con- 
ference. Mr.  Hedding  was  at  his  post  of  duty ;  and 
already,  though  comparatively  a  young  member,  by 
his  prudent  counsels  and  energetic  business  habits, 
he  had  come  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  influ- 
ential members  of  that  body.  At  this  General  Con- 
ference Enoch  George  and  Robert  R.  Roberts  were 
elected  and  ordained  bishops, — the  former  having  on 
the  first  ballot  fifty-seven,  and  the  latter,  on  the  second 
ballot,  fifty-five  votes,  out  of  one  hundi*ed  and  six. 
Rev.  Joshua  Soule  and  Rev.  Thomas  Mason  were 
elected  book  agents ;  and  the  publication  of  the  Meth- 
odist Magazine — -a  monthly  of  forty  octavo  pages — 
was  ordered.  Two  years,  however,  elapsed  before  the 
agents  found  it  consistent  to  carry  this  order  into  effect. 
11* 


262  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1816. 

At  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  Mr.  Red- 
ding returned  to  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  where  the 
session  of  the  New-England  Conference  commenced, 
on  the  22d  of  June.  Bishops  M'Kendree  and  Roberts 
were  both  present,  and  presided  alternately  over  its 
deliberations.  Its  sessions  were  harmonious  and 
pleasant — the  spirit  of  brotherly  love  prevailing  in 
an  unusual  degree.  'Not  only  a  common  bond  of 
interest,  but  the  fellowship  of  suffering  united  the 
hearts  of  Methodist  preachers  in  those  early  times. 
The  business  of  an  annual  conference  was  then 
limited,  compared  with  what  has  to  be  transacted  in 
the  present  day;  and  much  of  the  time,  therefore, 
was  devoted  to  the  public  religious  services.  Thus, 
the  session  of  an  annual  conference  was  a  signal  for 
special  efforts  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  for  labours  for  the  conversion  of  sinners.  Mr. 
Hedding  remarks  that  "  our  mode  of  conducting  the 
business  of  conference  in  those  days  was  much  more 
social,  and  less  under  the  discipline  and  forms  of  par- 
liamentary rules  than  in  later  times."  The  Kew- 
England  Conference  this  year  returned  a  member- 
ship of  eleven  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy- 
four,  being  an  increase  of  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine.  The  total  membership  of  the  Church  was  two 
hundred  and  fourteen  thousand  two  hundred  and 
thirty-five,  showing  a  net  gain  of  three  thousand 
and  seventy ;  preachers,  six  hundred  and  ninety-five, 
showing  a  decrease  of  nine. 

Both  Mr.  Hedding  and  his  colleague  were  returned 


1816.] 


CHUKCH    DKBT    1^  BOSTON. 


253 


to  Boston.  There  were  two  churches  iu  the  city  at 
that  time :  one  of  them  was  located  in  what  was 
familiarly  known  as  Methodist  Alley,  and  had  been 
occupied  by  the  society  since  1794 ;  the  other,  which 
was  larger,  and  more  substantially  built,  had  been 
erected  in  1806,  and  was  located  in  Bromfield-street, 
on  the  same  site,  we  believe,  as  the  present  Brom- 
field-street Church.  These  two  churches  were  held 
by  one  board  of  trustees,  and  on  them  both  there 
was  then  a  debt  of  §18,000.  This  had  been  incurred 
mainly  in  building  the  second  church ;  but  had  been 
increasing  from  year  to  year,  till  the  society  now 
groaned  mider  it  as  an  intolerable  burden.  Their 
affairs  were  now  brought  to  a  sort  of  crisis ;  for  their 
creditors  became  importunate  and  demanded  their 
money,  and  the  trustees  were  of  the  opinion  that  if  a 
forced  j^ublic  sale  of  the  property  was  had,  it  would 
not  at  that  time  bring  the  amount  of  the  encumbrance. 
For  a  time  their  affairs  appeared  to  be  in  a  desperate 
condition ;  and  it  was  feared  that  both  churches  would 
have  to  be  sold,  and  both  congregations  be  left  with- 
out a  house  to  worship  in.  Kor  would  this  be  the 
extent  of  the  calamity.  The  Methodists  would  be 
disheartened,  and  the  financial  credit  of  the  Church 
would  be  destroyed.  This  greatly  distressed  the 
preachers  as  well  as  the  people.  At  one  time  Mr. 
Hedding  could  see  no  way  of  averting  the  calamity ; 
but  he  was  not  the  man  to  yield  to  so  crushing  a  mis- 
fortune, so  long  as  there  was  any  possible  chance  of 
averting  it.  To  raise  the  money  by  any  of  the  ordinary 


254  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1816. 

modes  was  impracticable,  and  so  thoroughly  convinced 
of  this  were  both  preachers  and  officiary  that  it  was 
not  attempted.  Deliverance,  however,  was  wrought 
out.  Colonel  Amos  Binney,  one  of  the  best  financiers 
in  the  Church,  with  whom  the  preachers  counselled 
in  this  emergency,  and  who  felt  if  possible  still  more 
deeply  than  themselves,  finally  proposed  that  if  the 
.two  preachers  would  go  through  the  city  and  per- 
suade the  people  to  take  the  unsold  pews  at  their 
original  valuation, — for  enough  of  them  still  remained 
unsold  to  pay  the  entire  debt, — he  would  take  the 
notes  of  the  people  thus  subscribing,  payable  in  any 
articles  of  trade,  or  in  any  kind  of  labour  that  might 
be  most  convenient  to  those  drawing  them.  Also, 
that  he  would  give  sufficient  time  for  the  payments, 
and  run  all  risks  in  the  case  ;  and  as  soon  as  a  suffi- 
cient amount  was  secured  on  these  conditions,  he 
would  assume  the  Church  debt,  and  take  these  notes 
in  payment.  This  was  a  noble  offer ;  but  it  imposed 
heavy  conditions  on  the  preachers,  whose  hands  were 
already  quite  full.  There  were  only  about  three 
hundred  members  in  the  city.  Many  of  these  had 
already  taken  pews ;  nearly  all  of  them  were  poor. 
How  then  could  so  large  a  sum  as  $18,000  be  raised? 
Fearful  odds  were  against  them;  but  Mr,  Hedding 
was  not  without  hope,  and  he  possessed  an  energy  of 
character  equal  to  the  emergency.  He  and  his  col- 
league, therefore,  accepted  the  conditions,  and  hope 
again  revived  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  The  two 
preachers  now  applied  themselves  to  their  Herculean 


1816.]  CHUKCH   DEBT   LIQUIDATED.  255 

task.  Except  on  the  Sabbath,  every  day  in  the  week, 
early  and  late,  they  travelled  the  city  from  end  to 
end  and  from  side  to  side,  presenting  the  subject  to 
every  one  with  whom  there  was  the  least  prospect  of 
success.  Thus  many  people  who  were  not  in  the 
habit  of  attending  any  Church  became  enlisted  in 
the  enterprise,  and  were  led  to  attend  upon  the 
Methodist  ministry ;  and  many  of  them  subsequently 
became  valuable  members  of  the  Church.  After 
three  months'  unremitting  labour,  the  necessary  num- 
ber of  pews  had  been  taken ;  and,  on  an  afternoon 
appointed,  the  persons  interested  assembled  in  the 
Bromfield  church,  bid  for  their  choice  of  pews,  and 
gave  their  notes  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  of 
the  subscription.  All  passed  off  harmoniously.  The 
requisite  sum  was  reached.  The  notes  were  trans- 
ferred to  Colonel  Binney,  who  gave  his  check  for  the 
money,  and  the  debt  was  paid.  It  was  a  time  of 
great  rejoicing  among  the  people.  God  had  brought 
them  out  of  their  troubles,  and  set  their  feet  in  a 
broad  place.  The  number  of  regular  attendants  in 
the  congregations  was  increased,  and  the  Churches 
were  placed  upon  a  footing  they  had  never  before 
enjoyed.  A  great  and  glorious  work  had  been 
accomplished. 

During  this  year  the  society  also  received  another 
benefit,  for  which  it  was  undoubtedly  indebted  to 
Mr.  Hedding.  A  Mr.  Boardman,  a  member  of  the 
Church  in  Boston,  but  residing  in  Cambridge,  was 
taken  sick,  and  after  some  time  died.    During  his 


256  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    BEDDING.  [1816. 

sickness,  Mr.  Hedding  was  accustomed,  though,  it 
required  a  walk  of  some  three  miles,  to  visit  him 
twice  or  three  times  a  week,  to  converse  and  pray 
with  him.  After  his  death,  it  was  found  that  he  had 
left  in  his  will  $4,000  to  the  Methodist  Chm-ch  in 
Boston,  the  use  of  it  to  be  reserved  to  his  wife  dur- 
ing her  life-time.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  a  good  Christian  woman.  Immediately 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  she  paid  over  the 
entire  amount  to  the  trustees,  generously  and  nobly 
relinquishing  her  right  to  the  use  of  it.  She  lived 
nearly  thirty  years  afterward.  These  events  con- 
stituted a  bright  era  in  the  early  history  of  Method- 
ism in  Boston. 

It  was  now  a  quarter  of  a  century  since  Methodism 
was  first  planted  in  Boston ;  and  it  is  not  a  little 
remarkable  that,  up  to  this  time,  no  regular  Methodist 
preaching  had  been  established  in  any  of  the  neigh- 
bouring towns  excepting  Lynn.  But  during  this 
year  Mr.  Hedding  and  his  colleague  commenced 
preaching  first  in  Dorchester,  and  afterward  in 
Charlestown. 

Mr.  Arthur  Otheman,  a  merchant  in  Boston,  had 
removed  to  Dorchester,  and  thus  opened  the  way  for 
the  establishment  of  preaching  there.  At  first  Mr. 
Hedding  or  his  colleague  preached  once  a  week  in 
Mr.  Otheman's  house ;  but  he  soon  erected  a  small 
church  near  his  residence,  and  preaching  was  per- 
manently established  there.  In  1819^  it  appears  upon 
the  Minutes  in  connexion  with  Boston;  and  the 


1816.]  DORCHESTER    AND    CH  ARLESTOWN.  257 

succeeding  year  B.  Otlieman  was  appointed  to  it  as 
an  independent  station.  Here  in  1820,  Jotliam  Hor- 
ton,  who  had  that  year  been  received  on  trial  in  the 
conference,  commenced  his  ministry.  Here  also, 
thirty-three  years  after,  he  terminated  his  labours, 
breaking  down  in  the  midst  of  a  gracious  revival 
with  which  he  had  been  blessed.  His  dying  testi- 
mony was,  "All  my  hope  is  in  Christ;  I  look  at  noth- 
ing else.  My  transgressions,  my  labours,  my  right- 
eousness, and  unrighteousness,  I  lay  at  the  feet  of 
Christ.  I  trust  only  in  him,  and  say  with  Mr.  Wesley — 

•  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me.' " 

At  this  time  there  are  two  stations  in  the  place, 
regularly  supplied  from  the  conference. 

The  removal  of  a  few  members  to  Charlestown 
opened  the  way  to  preaching  in  that  place.  Mr. 
Hedding  and  his  colleague  might  have  excused  them- 
selves from  this  extra  labom-  on  account  of  their 
arduous  duties  in  Boston,  and  thus  left  these  mem- 
bers of  their  flock  to  stray  away  into  other  folds,  or 
to  backslide ;  but  they  were  not  the  men  to  shrink 
from  labour,  especially  when  a  great  and  effectual 
door  was  opened.  At  first  they  preached  once  a 
week  on  a  week  evening  in  some  private  house.  The 
seed  very  soon  took  root.  A  class  was  formed,  and 
quite  a  revival  took  place.  Two  years  later  the 
society  purchased  a  house  on  High-street;  and  Mr. 
Hedding,  then  stationed  in  Lynn,  preached  the  ded- 


258  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1817. 

ication  sermon  from  the  text — "  And  I  am  sv/re  that 
when  I  come  unto  you^  I  shall  come  in  the  fulness 
of  the  blessing  of  the  gosjpel  of  ChristP  Komans 
XV.,  29.  In  1819  it  became  a  station  in  connexion 
with  Boston,  and  "Wilbur  Fisk,  of  glorious  memory, — 
then  in  the  second  year  of  his  ministry, — was  their  first 
pastor.  The  next  year  it  was  made  a  distinct  charge, 
and  Mr.  Fisk  was  reappointed  to  it.  From  that  time 
forward  the  little  vine  continued  to  grow  and  spread, 
till  in  Charlestown  we  have  two  well-established  sta- 
tions, with  a  membei-ship  of  between  three  and  four 
hundred. 

But  while  these  noble  men  were  labouring  so  suc- 
cessfully to  free  the  churches  in  Boston  from  their 
crushing  debt,  and  also  to  plant  Methodism  in  these 
two  important  new  points,  they  were  not  neglectful 
of  the  spiritual  interest  of  their  charges  in  the  city. 
The  work  of  God  steadily  advanced,  and  at  the  ensuing 
conference  they  reported  a  membership  of  four  hun- 
dred and  three,  being  a  net  increase  of  sixty-five. 
So  great  was  the  impression  made  during  that  year 
by  Mr.  Hedding,  that  up  to  the  present  time  the  few 
surviving  members  continue  to  look  back  upon  it  as 
a  great  era  in  the  history  of  Methodism  in  the  city 
of  Boston.  For  the  second  time  in  his  ministry,  Mr. 
Hedding  felt  constrained  to  remain  with  his  flock  on 
account  of  the  religious  interest  that  prevailed,  instead 
of  going  to  conference. 

Concord,  in  the  State  of  Kew-Hampshire,  was  the 
seat  of  the  conference  in  1817.  Its  session  commenced 


1817.1  STATIONED   IN  PORTLAND. 


259 


May  the  16th.  The  progress  of  Methodism  in  the 
east  was  still  onward.  An  increase  of  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  thirty-three  was  reported,  making 
a  total  membership  in  the  ^Tew-England  Conference 
of  thirteen  thousand  four  hundred  and  seven.  The 
increase  in  the  whole  Church  was  ten  thousand  six 
hundred  and  eighteen,  and  the  total  membership  two 
hundi-ed  and  twenty-four  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-three.  The  number  of  travelling  preachers 
was  seven  hundred  and  sixteen,  being  an  increase  of 
twenty-one.  The  celebrated  Jesse  Lee  this  year 
closed  his  long  and  eventful  career  in  triumph.  His 
labours  extended  almost  from  one  end  of  the  United 
States  to  the  other.  His  best  eulogy  is  found  in  the 
results  of  his  labours. 

At  this  conference,  Mr.  Hedding  was  appointed  to 
Portland  District.  But  his  health  being  poor,  and 
unequal  to  the  arduous  labours  of  a  presiding  elder, 
he  was  released  by  the  bishop  and  stationed  in  Port- 
land, and  the  Kev.  N.  Bigelow,  who  had  been  sta- 
tioned there,  succeeded  him  on  the  district. 

The  Methodist  society  in  Portland  was  quite  numer- 
ous, and  a  large  part  of  very  respectable  character; 
but,  for  a  few  years  previous,  the  Church  had  been 
much  disturbed  by  some  of  its  members,  who  were 
greatly  in  favour  of  noisy  and  boisterous  meetings. 
Those  who  were  the  advocates  of  such  extravagant 
meetings  were  few  in  number,  but  very  zealous  and 
furious  in  maintaining  them,  to  the  great  annoyance  of 
the  larger  part  of  the  Church.  It  was  the  cause  of  con- 


260  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1817. 

siderable  trouble  and  labour  to  Mr.  Hedding;  but  by 
prudent  and  faithful  efforts  he  prevented  any  open 
rupture  during  his  stay  among  them.  But  the  division 
in  feeling  and  sentiment  prevented  any  great  work  of 
revival.  A  rupture  in  the  society,  however,  was  only 
delayed.  In  the  subsequent  year,  the  few  advocates 
of  noisy  meetings  witlidi*ew  from  the  Church,  and 
commenced  a  separate  meeting,  which  they  contin- 
ued for  a  year  or  two,  after  which  they  were  wholly 
broken  up,  and  some  of  their  prominent  leaders 
became  infidels  or  open  backsliders.  After  this 
secession,  the  prudent  and  sober  part  of  the  society 
who  remained  had  peace,  and  prospered  more  than 
before.  The  effects  of  it,  however,  were  felt  for  sev- 
eral years;  and  the  flourishing  society  of  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  members  which  was  there  in 
1816  was  gradually  reduced  to  one  hundred  and 
forty-two  in  1819,  and  then  it  began  to  revive  and 
increase.  The  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Hedding  was 
held  in  Portland  will  appear  from  a  letter  from 
Rev.  Joshua  Taylor,  then  a  located  preacher  con- 
nected with  the  charge.  He  says :  "  Brother  Hedding 
spent  one  year  with  us  here  in  Portland,  and  we 
were  in  hopes  to  have  had  him  another  year;  but  he 
was  so  loudly  called  for  at  Lynn  that  we  lost  the  privi- 
lege. While  he  was  with  us  he  was  highly  esteemed 
and  very  useful,  although  no  special  revival  took 
place ;  but  his  wise  and  judicious  management  saved 
the  society  from  an  eruption,  or  rather  division,  which 
afterward  took  place,  and  which  I  think  would  have 


1818.1 


STATIONED   IN  LYNN. 


261 


been  avoided  could  he  have  remained  with  us  the 
second  year." 

The  increase  in  the  l^ew-England  Conference  for 
this  year  was  seven  hundred  and  eighty-two,  giving 
an  aggregate  of  fourteen  thousand  one  hundred  and 
eighty-nine  members.  The  increase  in  the  whole 
Church  was  four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
four,  the  aggregate  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven ;  number  of 
travelhng  ministers  seven  hundred  and  forty-eight, 
increase  thirty-two.  The  session  of  the  conference 
was  held  at  Hallowell,  Maine. 

In  1818  and  1819,  Mr.  Hedding  was  stationed 
again  in  Lynn.  His  former  connexion  with  the 
society  there  had  greatly  endeared  the  people  to  him. 
Many  of  them  had  been  converted  under  his  ministry, 
and  received  into  the  Church  by  him.  The  appoint- 
ment was  peculiarly  pleasing  to  him,  and  the  people 
received  him  with  open  arms. 

During  the  second  year  of  his  ministry  there  he 
was  much  afflicted  with  ill  health  ;  and  during  the 
winter  was  able  to  preach  but  httle,  and,  indeed,  for 
a  good  portion  of  the  time  he  was  confined  to  the 
house.  The  people  were,  however,  unabated  in  their 
kindness.  He  supplied  his  pulpit  as  best  he  could ; 
and  in  spite  of  all  the  disadvantages  under  which  he 
laboui'ed,  it  was  a  year  of  considerable  success. 
Many,  who,  for  years  after,  were  among  the  most 
worthy  and  useful  members  of  the  Church,  were  that 
year  converted  to  God. 


262  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1819. 

The  session  of  the  conference  for  1819  was  held  in 
Lynn,  where  Mr.  Hedding  was  stationed.  The  mem- 
bership reported  at  this  conference  was  fifteen  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  twelve,  increase  one  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  twenty-three;  total  member- 
ship in  the  Church  two  hundred  and  forty  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  twenty  four,  increase  eleven  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  ninety-seven;  total  number 
of  travelling  preachers  eight  hundred  and  twelve, 
increase  sixty-four. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  again  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Conference,  which  was  to  assemble  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore  on  the  first  of  the  succeeding  May. 
It  was  composed  of  delegates  from  the  annual  confer- 
ences, as  follows,  namely :  New- York,  thirteen ;  New- 
England,  ten;  Genesee,  seven;  Ohio,  eight;  Tennes- 
see, six ;  South  Carolina,  nine  ;  Virginia,  eight ;  Balti- 
more, nine ;  Philadelphia,  fourteen ;  Missouri,  three ; 
Mississippi,  two.  Important  measures  relating  to  the 
vital  organization  of  the  Church,  and  also  to  the 
multiplication  of  her  agencies  and  the  enlargement 
of  her  operations,  were  discussed  at  this  conference. 
Some  of  them  were  radical  in  their  character,  and 
elicited  much  warmth  of  feeling  in  debate.  In  these 
questions  Mr.  Hedding  took  a  deep  interest,  and 
participated  in  the  debates  that  ensued ;  but  the 
suavity  and  com-tesy  of  his  manner,  the  manifest 
sincerity  and  honesty  of  his  opinions,  and  especially 
the  plain,  practical  manner  in  which  they  were  pre- 
sented, challenged  the  respect,  if  not  admiration  of 


1820.]  LABOURS   IN  NEW-LONDON. 


263 


even  his  opponents.  A  large  number  of  his  brethren 
wished  to  present  his  name  as  a  candidate  for  the 
episcopal  office,  as  it  had  been  determined  to  elect  an 
additional  bishop;  but  this  he  absolutely  declined. 
The  Kev.  Joshua  Soule  was  finally  elected ;  but,  as 
we  have  already  seen,  resigned  before  ordination,  in 
consequence  of  the  action  of  the  conference  upon  the 
presiding-eider  question.  The  conference  accepted 
his  resignation,  but  did  not  elect  any  other  in  his 
place. 

After  the  close  of  the  General  Conference,  Mr. 
Hedding,  with  his  colleagues,  returned  by  land  to 
New-York,  and  thence  sailed  in  a  sloop  to  IS'antucket, 
which  was  to  be  the  seat  of  the  New-England  Con- 
ference for  that  year.  Bishop  George  presided.  A 
membership  of  seventeen  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  was  reported,  exhibiting  the  large 
and  encouraging  increase  of  two  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven.  It  was  a  year  of  prosperity 
in  the  entire  Church.  The  whole  membership  was 
two  hundred  and  fifty-six  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  eighty  one,  increase  fifteen  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven ;  number  of  preachers  nine  hun- 
and  four,  increase  ninety-two. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  stationed  in  New-London.  He 
sailed  from  Nantucket  to  Boston  by  sloop,  travelled 
thence  by  land  to  Lynn,  sent  his  goods  by  water  to 
New-London,  and  with  his  wife  proceeded  by  the 
stage  to  his  appointment. 

Some  ten  years  before  he  had  travelled  the  New- 


264  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDIXG.  [1820. 

London  District,  and  had  then  formed  a  general 
acquaintance  with  the  society  in  the  city.  At  that 
time  the  society,  though  not  large,  was  composed 
for  the  most  part  of  excellent  and  truly  devoted 
people.  Since  then  large  additions  had  been  made. 
Among  these  were  some  excellent  members;  but 
many,  who  had  more  recently  joined,  were  not  reg- 
ular and  orderly  Methodists.  They  had  been  the 
occasion  of  much  difficulty  in  the  Church,  and  affairs 
were  now  tending  rapidly  to  a  crisis.  This  class  of 
persons  made  high  professions  of  piety,  were  disposed 
to  take  a  prominent  part  in  all  public  meetings,  and 
in  all  Church  matters — except  raising  fimds  for  its 
support.  They  were  exceedingly  boisterous  and 
irregular  in  their  religious  exercises,  impatient  of  all 
restraint  or  reproof,  censorious  in  their  spirit,  and 
intolerably  uncharitable  toward  every  one — ^not  even 
excepting  their  minister — who  did  not  coincide 
with  them  in  all  their  visionary  notions,  and  partici- 
pate in  all  their  irregular  and  noisy  demonstrations. 
The  reader  will  now  assent  to  the  fact  that  a  "  fit 
appointment "  had  been  made  in  sending  Mr.  Hed- 
ding  to  the  place.  His  keen  insight  into  man,  his 
wisdom,  and  skill,  and  prudence,  and  firmness,  all 
were  brought  into  requisition. 

Mr.  Hedding  soon  comprehended  the  nature  of  the 
case,  and  resolutely  set  himself  about  the  cure  of  the 
great  evils  that  had  sprung  up  in  the  society.  This 
was  a  most  delicate,  difficult,  and  painful  task.  In 
fact,  as  it  proved  in  the  end,  the  evil  had  been  so 


1820.] 


DISORGANIZERS. 


265 


long  tolerated  that  it  was  past  cure.  The  irregulars 
did  nothing  toward  the  support  of  the  preacher,  or 
toward  meeting  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  Church, 
and  upon  the  faithful  few  the  burden  fell  heavily ;  but 
they  endeavoured  to  bear  it  Kke  Christian  men.  It 
was  impossible  to  conceive  the  many  modes  in  which 
these  deluded  persons  would  annoy  both  the  preacher 
and  the  faithful  portion  of  the  Church;  it  seemed 
as  though  the  devil  was  ever  present  to  help  them. 
After  Mr.  Hedding  left  the  charge  this  faction  con- 
tinued to  annoy  and  distract  the  society,  till  at 
length,  by  violence,  they  obtained  possession  of  the 
church.  Here  they  now  run  riot  in  their  fanaticism ; 
but  they  soon  quarrelled  among  themselves,  and  in 
the  end  came  to  naught.  Some  of  them  turned  out 
to  be  immoral  and  grossly  licentious ;  others  wholly 
renounced  Christianity,  and  became  avowed  infidels. 
The  old  society,  for  a  time,  occupied  another  place  of 
worship,  but  eventually  recovered  their  old  church 
by  a  process  of  law ;  and  being  purged  from  the  cor- 
ruption that  had  tainted  them,  they  became  a  well- 
established  society.  But  Methodism  received  a  severe 
shock  in  the  place,  from  which  it  did  not  recover  for 
many  years. 

During  the  latter  part  of  this  year  Mr.  Hedding 
suffered  from  an  attack  of  the  dyspepsy,  and  his  health 
was  so  completely  prostrated  that  he  was  compelled 
to  relinquish  his  charge.  He  now  began  to  fear  that 
his  itinerant  work  was  done ;  and,  much  as  he  had 
sufi'ered  in  that  work,  the  idea  of  being  compelled  to 


266  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1821. 

desist  occasioned  the  most  painful  feelings.  Under 
advice,  he  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  travelling 
on  horseback,  though  it  was  with  the  greatest  diffi- 
culty that  he  could  mount  or  dismoimt,  or  even  hold 
his  position  after  he  had  mounted.  Accordingly  he 
purchased  a  horse,  and  prepared  for  his  journey. 
The  first  day  he  was  able  to  progress  but  a  few  miles ; 
the  next  he  increased  the  distance.  Thus  he  con- 
tinued to  travel  for  several  weeks,  his  health  gradu- 
ally improving  all  the  while.  In  June  of  that  year 
he  reached  Barre,  Yermont,  in  season  to  attend  the 
session  of  the  conference,  which  commenced  on  the 
20th.  Bishop  George  presided  at  this  conference. 
His  experiment  in  horseback  exercise  encouraged 
him  to  hope  that  he  might  stand  the  work  a  few  years 
longer,  if  he  could  have  such  work  as  would  require 
much  out-door  exercise,  especially  on  horseback.  The 
state  of  his  health,  and  his  desire  as  to  the  nature  of  his 
work,  he  made  known  to  the  bishop ;  and  at  the  close 
of  the  conference  he  was  placed  upon  the  Boston  Dis- 
trict. The  increase  in  the  JS'ew-England  Conference 
this  year  was  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eleven ; 
and  in  the  whole  Church,  twenty-one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  fifty-six.  Seventy- three  were  also  added 
to  the  number  of  travelling  preachers. 


182L1 


BOSTON  DISTRICT. 


267 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

MR.  HEDDING  ON  BOSTON  DISTRICT  AND  IN  BOSTON -PROM  1821 
TO  1824. 

Boston  District— An  Inhospitable  Methodist — State  of  the  Work — Camp- 
meetings — Conference  at  Bath — Stationed  in  Boston — Mr.  Hedding's 
Conference  Sermon — Measures  to  establish  Zion's  Herald — Mr.  Hed- 
ding's Colleague,  Ephraim  Wiley — Conference  of  1823 — Returned  to 
Boston — Colleague — John  Lindsey — Review  of  Mr.  Hedding's  Labours — 
Progress  of  Methodism — Elements  of  its  Success — 1.  Revival  of  the  Old 
Doctrines  of  Christianity — 2.  Appeal  to  Man's  Consciousness  of  his 
Relations  to  God — 3.  A  Conscious  Personal  Salvation — i.  Individualizing 
Characteristics  of  Methodist  Preaching — 5.  Peculiar  Provisions  of  Or- 
ganic Methodism — Perpetuity  of  these  Elements — Confidence  reposed  in 
Mr.  Hedding  by  his  Brethren. 

"We  have  already  noticed  tlie  appointment  of  Mr. 
Hedding  to  the  Boston  District.  Though  small  in 
extent  when  compared  with  the  earlier  districts,  and 
also  when  compared  with  some  at  that  time,  it  em- 
braced quite  an  extent  of  territory.  In  the  north, 
it  extended  to  Cape  Ann  and  ]^e wbur jport ;  in  the 
soutli,  it  included  Xew-Bedford,  Plymouth,  and  all 
of  Cape  Cod,  also  Xantucket  and  Martha's  Vineyard. 
This,  one  would  think,  was  a  rather  laborious  field  for 
a  sick  man.  But  no  sooner  has  the  conference  closed, 
than,  having  fixed  his  family  residence  among  his  old 
friends  at  Lynn,  he  mounts  his  horse,  and  proceeds 
to  a  first  survey  of  his  extended  work.  His  health 
continued  to  improve  gradually ;  but  it  was  nearly  a 
year  before  he  was  fiiHy  recovered. 

12 


268  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1821. 

In  the  month  of  March,  an  incident  occurred  which 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  severe  cold,  and  came  very 
near  terminating  his  useful  labours.  While  journey- 
ing to  one  of  his  quarterly  meetings,  on  Cape  Cod, 
he  put  up  for  the  night  with  a  certain  physician,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Church,  and  quite  a  wealthy 
man.  A  "  north-east  storm  "  of  unusual  violence  came 
on.  These  storms,  especially  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  are  always  severe  along  the  sea-border  of  New- 
England  ;  and  along  the  bleak  coast  of  Cape  Cod  they 
have  full  sweep.  Mr.  Hedding,  finding  in  the  morn- 
ing that  the  violence  of  the  storm  was  unabated,  said 
to  his  wealthy  host  that,  as  he  would  still  have  time 
to  reach  his  quarterly  conference  at  Provincetown, 
he  would  not  contend  with  the  elements,  but  would  re- 
main in-doora  for  the  day.  The  doctor  gruffly  replied, 
"  You  are  neither  sugar  nor  salt."  The  offensive  ex- 
pression was  uttered  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give 
unmistakable  evidence  that,  such  was  the  meanness 
of  his  nature,  he  would  prefer  that  the  minister  of 
Christ  should  be  exposed  to  the  inconveniences  and 
sufferings  of  the  storm,  and  the  danger  that  might 
result  to  his  health  and  life,  than  be  at  the  expense 
and  trouble  of  entertaining  him  another  day.  Mr. 
Hedding  immediately  mounted  his  horse,  and  faced 
the  pelting  storm  till  he  came  to  a  more  hospitable 
place  of  entertainment.  By  this  exposure  he  contract- 
ed a  cold,  which  settled  upon  his  lungs ;  and  though 
he  visited  his  quarterly  meetings,  he  was  not  able  to 
preach  again  till  after  the  next  annual  conference. 


1821.] 


BOSTON  DISTEICT. 


269 


Mr.  Hedding  at  this  time  gives  the  following  short 
account  of  the  condition  of  the  work  in  his  district : — 
"  The  societies  throughout  the  district  were  generally 
orderly,  steady,  and  religions.  There  were  several 
very  gracious  revivals  during  the  year.  Tlie  society 
at  Kewburyport  was  young,  and  struggling  with  many 
embarrassments ;  but  it  prospered  notwithstanding  its 
difficulties.  In  Salem  the  Church  had  but  just  com- 
menced, and  hardly  had  the  breath  of  life.  In  Lynn 
and  Marblehead  there  were  old  and  well-established 
societies,  steadily  advancing  in  numbei-s  and  influ- 
ence. There  was  an  overwhelming  revival  in  Boston. 
The  societies  in  Maiden  and  Cambridge,  but  in  their 
infancy,  were  doing  well.  Dorchester,  though  small, 
was  continually  increasing.  J^ew-Bedford,  limited  in 
numbers  and  strength,  bid  fair  to  make  a  good  and 
useful  Church.  On  Martha's  Yineyard  there  were 
several  small  societies,  but  composed  of  devoutly 
religious  members.  ^Nantucket  had  a  very  large  and 
flourishing  Church.  All  over  Cape  Cod  the  societies 
were  an  interesting  body  of  plain  and  faithful  Chris- 
tians ;  the  Methodists  had  preoccupied  that  ground. 
Provincetown,  at  the  end  of  the  cape,  was  one  of  the 
oldest  and  best  Churches  on  the  district." 

During  this  year  he  held  two  camp-meetings, — one 
at  Wellfleet,  on  Cape  Cod,  and  the  other  near  Xew- 
Bedford.  The  former  was  one  of  signal  profit  to  the 
people,  and  very  many  professed  conversion.  At  the 
latter  he  preached  the  opening  sermon.  It  was  a 
sermon  of  great  power,  and  was  long  remembered  by 


270  LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  HEDDING.  [1822. 

many  who  heard  it.  His  text  was,  "  Speak  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  that  they  go  forward." 

The  session  of  the  conference  commenced  June  29, 
1822,  at  Bath,  Maine:  Bishop  Roberts  presided.  The 
increase  in  the  New-England  Conference  this  year 
was  only  three  hundred  and  seventy-four,  making  a 
membership  of  twenty  thousand  and  twenty-four ;  in 
the  whole  Church,  sixteen  thousand  four  himdi*ed  and 
seventy-six,  making  a  membership  of  two  himdred 
and  ninety-seven  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  ;  in  the  itinerant  ministry,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine,  making  the  total  number  one  thousand 
one  hundred  and  six. 

Mr.  Hedding  says :  "At  this  conference,  on  account 
of  my  ill  health,  resulting  from  a  severe  cold  I  had 
taken  in  the  March  preceding,  I  requested  to  give 
up  the  district,  and  asked  the  bishop  to  give  me  some 
small  place,  where  the  labour  would  be  less,  and  I 
should  be  enabled  to  recover  my  health.  But,  in  the 
council  as  presiding  elder,  I  soon  discovered  that  the 
bishop  had  set  me  down  for  Boston.  I  again  requested 
to  have  some  small  place ;  but  the  bishop  said  no. 
'Then,'  said  I,  'put  me  on  the  district;  for  it  will 
be  better  for  my  health  than  to  have  so  large  and 
arduous  a  charge.'  But  the  bishop  persisted,  and  I 
was  appointed  to  Boston." 

The  conference,  at  its  preceding  session,  had  re- 
quested Mr.  Hedding  to  preach  a  sermon  at  this 
conference  on  the  Divinity  of  Christ.  This  sermon 
gave  great  satisfaction,  and  the  conference  requested  a 


1822.] 


CONFERENCE  SEEMON. 


271 


copy  for  publication.  It  was  published  in  the  seventh 
volume  of  the  Methodist  Magazine.  This  sermon  is 
not  distinguished  so  much  for  grace  of  style  and 
felicity  of  expression  as  for  clear  statement  and 
sound  Scriptural  elucidation  of  Bible  truth.  The 
text  taken  for  the  occasion  was,  "In  the  beginning 
was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the 
Word  was  God.  The  same  was  in  the  beginning  with 
God."  John  i,  1,  2.  After  a  brief  notice  of  the  eiTors 
that  had  crept  into  the  infant  Church,  and  which  the 
evangelist  here  sought  to  correct,  the  author  proceeded 
to  develop  what  was  asserted  in  the  text  concerning 
Christ.  This  he  shows  could  mean  nothing  less  than 
that  he  is  the  Supreme  God.  The  arguments  are 
less  novel  than  substantial.  They  exhibit  not  only  an 
acquaintance  with  the  best  theological  writers,  but 
an  amount  of  close  Biblical  research  creditable  to  the 
author,  and  giving  invincible  strength  to  his  positions. 
The  following  are  his  closing  remarks,  which  we  give 
as  an  example  of  the  direct  and  forcible  character  of 
his  style,  as  weU  as  for  the  interest  of  the  subject : — 
"The  subject,  then,  is  brought  to  this  point :  we  must 
either  renounce  the  Bible,  and  go  back  with  the 
pagans  to  the  dim  light  of  nature  to  be  instructed 
respecting  God  and  religion,  or  we  must  believe  what 
it  declares  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Kow,  my  breth- 
ren, what  say  you  ?  Are  you  prepared  to  give  up  the 
Bible  ?  Are  you  willing  to  be  pagans  or  deists  ?  ^^o ! 
you  are  Christians, — Christians  by  conviction  and 
choice.    You  believe  that  the  Almighty  Being  who 


272  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1822. 

made  you  has  redeemed  you.  You  believe  in  tlie 
unity  of  the  Godhead, — not  that  there  are  two  gods, 
nor  three  gods  ;  but  that  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost 
are  one  God :  one  in  essence,  though  three  in  pei*sons, 
or  modes  of  existence.  You  are,  therefore,  consist- 
ent Unitarians ;  for  a  Unitarian  is  a  believer  in 
one  God.  Whereas  those  who  deny  the  supreme 
divinity  of  Christ,  and  yet  believe  the  Bible,  are  not 
Unitarians.  For  they  must  believe  that  Christ  is  God 
in  some  sense,  if  they  suppose  him  such  only  by  office ; 
and  if  they  believe  he  is  God  in  any  other  sense  what- 
ever than  that  in  which  we  have  proved  him  to  be, 
then  they  believe  in  at  least  two  gods, — a  Supreme 
God,  and  a  secondary  god ! 

"  The  faith  we  entertain  in  our  Lord  and  Master  is 
perfectly  consistent  with  his  whole  life.  It  is  true, 
that  in  a  few  instances,  when  speaking  of  his  human 
nature,  or  of  his  office  as  Mediator,  he  rejDresents 
himself  less  than  the  Father;  but  he  always  does 
this  in  such  a  manner,  or  in  such  circumstances, 
as  to  make  it  appear  that  he  speaks  of  his  human- 
ity, or  of  his  office  as  Mediator;  showing  us,  at  the 
same  time,  that  what  he  says  on  this  point  is  not 
inconsistent  with  his  supreme  divinity.  Take  an 
example:  'My  Father  is  greater  than  I.'  These  are 
suitable  words  for  the  Eternal  Word  to  use  in  the 
time  of  his  humiliation.  But  for  the  highest  creatm-e 
in  the  universe  it  would  be  a  haughty  piece  of  humil- 
ity to  say,  God  is  greater  than  L  What  should  we 
think  of  Moses,  IsaiaJi,  or  Paul,  had  one  of  them  said 


1822.] 


CONFERENCE  SERMON. 


273 


SO  ?  And  if  Jesus  were  only  a  man,  as  some  say, — 
admitting  him  to  be  higher  than  any  man  on  earth,  or 
any  angel  in  heaven, — how  would  he  appear  saying, 
God  is  greater  than  If  What  comparison  can  there 
be  between  the  Infinite  God  and  any  creature  ? 

"The  conduct,  conversation,  and  preaching  of 
Christ  were  calculated  to  lead  the  people  into  a  belief 
of  his  divinity.  He  wrought  his  miracles  in  his 
own  name.  He  used  the  same  language  respecting 
himself,  that  the  God  of  the  Hebrews  had  done  con- 
cerning himself:  'Before  Alrraham  was,  I  am.''  He 
claimed  equal  honours  with  the  Father.  He  pro- 
fessed to  be  able  to  do  what  none  but  God  could 
do.  '  The  Son  quickeneth  whom  he  will.  The  dead 
shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  they  that 
hear  shall  live.  All  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear 
his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth.'  He  could  lay  down 
and  take  up  the  life  of  his  body  at  pleasure,  by  his 
own  power:  '  I  have  jpower  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have 
jpower  to  take  it  ujp  again?  He  spoke  of  this  power 
as  an  evidence  of  his  divinity.  '  If  I  do  not  the 
works  of  my  Father,  believe  me  not.  But  if  I  do, 
though  ye  believe  not  me,  believe  the  works ;  that  ye 
may  know  and  believe  that  the  Father  is  in  me,  and 
I  in  him.'  He  speaks  of  himself  as  being  of  the 
same  essence  with  the  Father,  by  saying,  'He  that 
believetli  on  me,  believeth  not  on  me,  but  on  him 
that  sent  me.'  '  If  ye  had  known  me,  ye  should  have 
known  my  Father  also.'  '  He  that  seeth  me,  seeth  him 
that  sent  me.'' 


274:  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING-  [1822. 

"  Christ  prohibited  the  people  serving  any  other 
but  the  true  God:  '  Him  only  shalt  thou  serve.'  Yet 
he  frequently  required  them  to  serve  him,  love  him, 
&c.  He  commanded  them  to  place  the  same  confi- 
dence in  him  they  placed  in  the  Father :  '  Ye  be- 
lieve in  God,  beheve  also  in  me.'  And  all  these  du- 
ties he  enforced,  by  promising  to  give  them  the 
greatest  possible  blessings — blessings  which  none  but 
God  could  give  :  '  I  will  give  you  rest — /  will  receive 
you  unto  myself."^  '  If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my 
name,  I  will  do  it.'  'I  give  unto  them  eternal  life. 
I  will  raise  Kim  up  at  the  last  day^  '  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he 
Hve.' 

"  He  speaks  of  himself  as  having  authority  to  send 
the  Holy  Spirit :  '  But  if  I  depart,  I  will  send  him 
unto  you.'  ^  He  shall  glorify  me ;  for  he  shall  receive 
of  mine.,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you.' 

"  Consider  how  Christ  unifoiTnly  condemned  osten- 
tation, and  recommended  humihty.  Hear  him  say  to 
his  disciples,  ''Be  not  ye  called  Babhi — neither  he  ye 
called  masters."^  Then  hear  him  speak  of  himself: 
'  For  one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ.'  '  Ye  call  me 
Master  and  Lord,  and  ye  say  well ;  for  so  I  am.' 

"  If  Jesus  Christ  be  God,  all  these  declarations  re- 
specting himself  appear  consistent,  rational,  and  sub- 
lime. But  call  him  a  mere  creature,  and  you  change 
the  character  from  the  highest  state  of  glory  to  the 
lowest  state  of  degradation  and  wretchedness.  For 
then,  instead  of  appearing  to  us  as  that  merciftd  and 


1822.] 


CONFERENCE  SEKMON. 


275 


powerful  God  he  represented  himself  to  be,  he  comes 
forward  only  as  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary,  only 
as  Jesus  of  E"azareth — ^a  mere  man!  yet  assum- 
ing the  authority  of  God,  claiming  all  the  honours 
and  services  God  claimed,  professing  to  do  all  that 
God  did,  promising  in  his  own  name  all  that  God 
promised,  even  blessings  which  none  but  God  could 
bestow — making  himself  equal  with  God!  In  this 
view  of  him,  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  believe  that 
he  was  even  a  good  man, 

"  Further,  viewing  him  as  a  mere  creature,  if  we 
could  believe  he  was  a  good  man,  and  if  we  could 
keep  our  souls  from  being  chilled  with  horror  at  his 
high-sounding  pretensions,  what  excellence  could  we 
see  in  him  superior  to  that  of  many  other  servants  of 
God  ?  K  he  were  but  a  creature,  he  made  no  atone- 
ment for  sin,  which,  I  believe,  all  allow  who  deny  his 
divinity.  Take  away  the  divinity  and  the  atone- 
ment, and  wherein,  I  ask  again,  is  he  superior  to  the 
other  servants  of  God  %  Leave  him  destitute  of  these 
excellences,  and  he  falls  at  once  into  a  level  with  his 
fellow-creatures.  He  taught  no  more  than  Moses  had 
taught  before  him ;  he  brought  no  new  light  into  the 
world,  though  lie  said  he  wa^  the  light  of  the  world.  Is 
it  said.  He  set  a  good  example  ?  So  did  other  servants 
of  God.  You  reply.  He  laboured  for  the  good  of  man- 
kind. Moses  did  more  for  the  Hebrews  than  he  did ; 
Paul  laboured  more  abundantly.  Jesus  preached 
three  or  four  years ;  Paul  preached  about  thirty 
years.    Jesus  preached  only  through  Palestine ;  Clem- 

12* 


276  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1822. 

ent  says,  Paul  preached  in  the  east,  and  to  the 
uttermost  bounds  of  the  west.  Did  Jesus  work  mira- 
cles ?  Paul  probably  wrought  more,  for  he  lived 
longer;  and  if  both  were  only  men,  both  were 
equally  dependent  for  the  power  by  which  they 
wrought  them.  '  But  Jesus  died  for  sinners.'  Hold ! 
This  strange  doctrine  says  he  did  not  die  to  atone  for 
sin^  he  died  only  as  a  martyr  !  So  did  Isaiah ;  so 
did  Paul.  But  it  is  further  stated,  '  He  is  the  Son 
of  God."  God  has  other  sons  besides  him ;  and  if 
he  be  only  a  man,  we  do  not  believe  our  heavenly 
Father  placed  him  so  much  above  his  brethren,  as  he 
represents  himself  to  be  ;  Paul  was  a  son  of  God  also. 
Finally,  making  Jesus  the  character  to  which  we 
have  alluded,  Paul  did  more  for  the  salvation  of  man- 
kind than  Jesus  did ;  and  we  are  under  greater  obliga- 
tions to  Paul  than  to  Jesus !  Exclude  the  divinity 
and  the  atonement,  and  everything  that  is  said  in 
the  Bible  about  salvation  by  Christ  is  a  mere  sound 
of  words.  Paul  saved  us  in  the  same  sense  Jesus 
did,  and  suffered  more  to  accomplish  the  work  than 
Jesus  did! 

"  Again,  supposing  Jesus  to  have  been  the  mere 
creature  many  imagine  he  was,  it  is  no  wonder  the 
Jews  were  offended  at  the  high  pretensions  he  set  up. 
They  understood  those  pretensions  to  be  blasphemy, 
often  accused  him  of  that  crime,  and  supposed  their 
law  (Lev.  xxiv,  16)  required  them  to  put  him  to  death. 
And  if  he  were  only  a  man,  who  can  prove  that  the 
Jews  had  not  good  reasons  for  attempting  to  kill  him. 


1822.] 


CONFERENCE  SERMON. 


277 


l)ec(mse  he  made  himself  equal  with  God  f  Such  are 
the  shocking  consequences  of  denying  the  divinity 
of  Christ. 

"  But,  my  brethren,  we  are  not  led  away  with  these 
derogatory  views  of  the  Son  of  God.  We  believe  he 
is  that  Booh  on  which  the  Church  is  huilt^  and  by 
which  it  is  supported,  so  that  the  gates  of  hell  shall 
not  prevail  against  it.  '  For  other  foundation  can 
no  man  lay  than  that  which  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus 
Christ.'  Then  let  us  cleave  to  him  with  all  our 
hearts,  holding  the  beginning  of  our  confidence  stead- 
fast unto  the  end.  Believing  Christ  was  what  he  pro- 
fessed to  be,  we  respect  the  faith  of  the  apostles,  and 
admire  their  conduct  when  they  worshipped  him, 
and  preached  him  to  the  world  as  an  Almighty 
Saviour,  able  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  came 
unto  God  hy  him  /  and  when  they  wrought  miracles 
in  his  name,  calling  on  the  people  to  believe  in  him, 
encouraging  them  to  expect  he  would  pardon  their 
sins,  send  down  the  Holy  Spirit  to  sanctify  their  na- 
tures, and  save  their  souls.  These  views  of  Christ 
carried  the  apostles  among  Jews  and  heathen,  by  land 
and  water,  through  prisons,  blood,  and  fire,  among 
wild  beasts,  crosses,  and  gibbets,  to  pluck  human 
souls  as  brands  from  the  fire.  By  these  views,  the 
faithful  servants  of  God,  from  the  apostles  down  till 
now,  have  been  animated  and  rendered  successful  in 
preaching  Christ  crucified  to  a  dying  world. 

"  Then,  my  brethren,  let  us  go  forward,  in  the  name 
of  our  Almighty  Master,  and  vindicate  his  injured 


278  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1822. 

honour ;  and,  by  the  best  of  our  ability,  to  the  end  of 
life,  maintain  his  cause,  by  doing  all  in  our  power  to 
be  the  means  of  saving  the  souls  he  purchased  by  his 
blood." 

The  conference  requested  the  publication  of  this 
sermon  as  early  as  June,  1822;  its  publication  was 
not  commenced  till  the  August  number  of  the  Meth- 
odist Magazine  for  1824.  It  was  then  completed  in 
two  numbers. 

At  the  conference  of  1822,  the  question  of  estab- 
lishing a  religious  newspaper  was  brought  before  the 
body ;  and,  after  full  discussion,  it  was  determined  to 
go  forward  in  the  enterprise.  The  conference  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  carry  its  purpose  into  effect. 
Mr.  Hedding  was  an  active  friend  of  the  measure, 
and  one  of  the  committee.  The  paper  was  to  be 
issued  from  Boston;  and,  as  Mr.  Hedding  was  the 
only  one  of  the  committee  in  that  vicinity,  the  burden 
of  the  enterprise  fell  upon  him.  The  result  was  the 
establishment  of  the  Zion's  Herald,  the  first  weekly 
religious  newspaper  established  under  the  patronage 
of  the  Church ;  and,  indeed,  among  the  first  estab- 
lished in  the  country. 

Mr.  Hedding's  colleague  in  Boston  this  year  was 
Ephraim  Wiley,  who  had  also  been  in  the  city  the 
preceding  year  in  connexion  with  Rev.  S.  W.  Wilson. 
Mr.  Wiley  was  received  on  trial  in  1818,  and  during 
the  first  two  years  of  his  ministry  was  stationed  in 
Wellfleet,  the  third  in  Maiden,  and  the  next  two  in 
Boston.    Mr.  Hedding  says  of  him:  "He  was  a 


1823.] 


EPHRAIM  WILEY. 


2Y9 


pleasant,  useful,  and  popular  preacher;  and  we  la- 
boured together  in  great  harmony.  Although  the 
year  was  not  characterized  for  great  revivals,  there 
was  a  good  state  of  religious  interest  in  the  Churches ; 
it  was  a  year  of  profit  and  some  ingathering."  Mr. 
Wiley  continued  many  years  an  efficient  and  popular 
minister ;  but  was  finally  returned  superannuated  in 
1839.  Two  of  his  sons  graduated  at  the  Wesleyan 
University :  one  of  them  became  a  physician,  and  the 
other  is  the  Kev.  E.  E.  Wiley,  D.  D.,  President  of  the 
Emory  and  Henry  College  in  Western  Yirginia. 

Bishop  George  presided  at  the  conference  in  1823 ; 
and  its  sessions  commenced  in  Providence,  Phode 
Island,  June  12th.  The  work  was  still  advancing  in 
New-England.  Places  heretofore  inaccessible,  on  ac- 
count of  their  remoteness,  or  on  account  of  the  invin- 
cible wall  of  bigotry  and  prejudice  that  defended 
them,  were  constantly  invaded,  and  the  standard  of 
Methodism  planted  in  their  very  midst.  The  old  cir- 
cuits, too,  as  the  society  became  strong  in  numbers 
and  in  ability,  were  constantly  contracting  their  bor- 
ders by  the  excision  of  parts,  which  were  organized 
into  new  stations  or  circuits.  The  summation  for  this 
year  was  twenty  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty- 
six,*  increase  nine  hundred  and  two ;  membership  in 
the  whole  Church,  three  hundred  and  twelve  thousand 
five  hundred  and  forty,  increase  fourteen  thousand 

"  The  General  Minutes  for  this  year  make  it  twenty-one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  twenty-six,  an  error  of  one  thousand  made  in 
adding. 


280  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1823. 

nine  linndi*ed  and  eight ;  trayelling  ministers  one 
thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-six,  increase  one 
hundred  and  twenty. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  reappointed  to  Boston,  with  the 
Eev.  John  Lindsev  as  his  colleague.  Mr,  Lindsej  was 
a  native  of  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  and  was  among  the 
earlv  fi-uits  of  Methodism  in  that  place,  and  entered 
the  travelling  ministry  in  1809.  Mr.  Hedding  says 
of  him :  "  He  was  a  true  friend  and  a  good  preacher. 
We  laboured  together  during  the  year  in  great  broth- 
erly love — ^preaching,  praying,  and  visiting  the  classes." 
The  Christian  affection  established  between  these  two 
men  of  God  at  this  early  day,  continued  unabated  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ;  when  Mr.  Lindsey 
fell,  while  yet  in  the  heat  of  the  battle,  with  his  armom* 
still  girded  upon  him.  The  following  extract  from  a 
letter,  written  by  Mr.  Hedding  after  the  death  of  his 
old  colleague,  will  show  his  estimate  of  his  character 
and  life:  "His  religious  experience  was  deep  and 
genuine.  His  spirit  and  manner  of  life  were  devout, 
and  religiously  upright.  ,  He  was  a  man  of  indus- 
trious habits,  and  manifested  that  industry  in  all  the 
departments  of  his  duty.  He  was  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  talents,  and  by  industry  and  persever- 
ance he  acquired  a  large  amount  of  useful  knowledge. 
He  was  really  a  sound  and  learned  divine.  He  had 
great  resolution  in  the  pursuit  of  his  labours  and  the 
prosecution  of  his  duties.  Many  of  his  appointments 
required  great  mental  effort  and  bodily  labours ;  but 
he  braved  the  summer's  heat,  and  the  winter's  cold 


1823.]  CHURCH   IN   EAST   CAMBRIDGE.  281 

and  snows,  and,  like  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ, 
accomplislied  his  work.  His  labours  were  frequently 
followed  with  blessings  on  the  souls  of  the  people, — 
both  in  edifying  and  strengthening  the  childi-en  of 
God  and  in  awakening  and  converting  sinners.  He 
was  a  man  by  nature  of  a  kind  heart ;  and  by  grace 
that  affection  was  sanctified  and  strengthened.  He 
was  an  abiding  friend  to  his  friends,  and  he  had  a 
heart  to  forgive  an  enemy."  Such  was  the  character 
of  Mr.  Hedding's  colleague  in  the  last  appointment 
he  filled  before  his  elevation  to  the  episcopal  office. 
One  of  his  sons,  the  Kev.  J.  "W.  Lindsey,  A.  M.,  is 
now  a  professor  in  the  "Wesleyan  University  at  Mid- 
dletown,  Connecticut. 

Through  the  labours  of  Mr.  Hedding  and  his  col- 
league, a  church  was  erected  at  what  is  now  called  East 
Cambridge,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  by 
Mr.  Hedding  in  the  midst  of  a  violent  snow-storm. 
Such  was  the  zeal  of  the  people  that  the  storm  did 
not  prevent  their  assembling ;  and  the  preachers  were 
not  a  whit  behind  them  in  braving  obstacles  when  a 
great  work  was  before  them. 

As  this  year  terminated  Mr.  Hedding's  special  con- 
nexion with  the  New-England  Conference,  by  his 
election  to  the  episcopal  office,  it  may  be  well  to  sur- 
vey the  progress  of  the  work  during  his  connexion 
with  it.  As  we  have  already  seen,  his  first  field  of 
labour  was  in  Vermont ;  and,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year,  all  his  subsequent  fields  of  labour  were 
included  mainly  in  ISTew-England.    He  went  out  first 


282  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1823. 

under  the  presiding  elder,  in  1799.  The  whole  mem- 
bership of  the  Church,  then,  was  sixty-one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  fifty-one,  of  whom  twelve  thousand 
two  hundred  and  thirty  six — or  about  one-fifth  of 
the  whole — were  coloured;  and  the  whole  number 
of  preachers  two  hundred  and  seventy-two.  In  the 
territory  subsequently  included  in  the  ]N"ew-Eng- 
land  Conference,  there  were  then  but  two  thousand 
nine  hundi'ed  and  seventy-five  members,  and  thirty- 
one  preachers.  The  aggregate,  at  the  close  of  this 
year,  was  twenty-one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
twenty-five  members,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  travelling  preachers.  Then  there  were  very 
few  churches,  and  but  little  provision  made  for  the 
support  of  the  preachers  or  their  families;  now 
churches  had  been  established  in  almost  every  sec- 
tion of  the  work,  and  the  people  had  become  better 
able  to  make  the  preachers  and  their  families  com- 
fortable. Then  the  societies  were  generally  a  mere 
handful,  widely  separated  from  each  other  on  the  ex- 
tensive circuits,  and  could  be  reached  only  by  long 
and  fatiguing  rides  over  bad  and  often  dangerous 
roads ;  now  the  circuits  had  generally  become  con- 
tracted, so  as  to  lessen  the  physical  labour  and 
exposure  necessary  in  performing  the  services  they 
required ;  and  many  of  the  societies  that  had  become 
sufficiently  strong  had  been  organized  into  stations, 
and  enjoyed  the  entire  pastoral  oversight  as  well  as 
ministerial  labour  of  the  preacher.  Then  Methodist 
publications  were  very  rare,  and  difficult  to  be  ob- 


1823.] 


PKOGKESS    OF  METHODISM. 


283 


tained,  and  among  the  people  there  were  few  books 
except  those  published  by  Calvinists  and  of  Calvinistic 
tendencies;  but  these  few  were  greatly  prized,  and 
were  read  and  re-read,  and  then  loaned  to  their  neigh- 
bours. Now  the  Book  Concern  in  E'ew-York  had 
begun  to  develop  its  giant  energies,  and  was  rapidly 
increasing  its  list  of  publications,  and  in  a  still  higher 
ratio  the  number  of  its  issues ;  so  that,  by  the  efficient 
agency  of  the  preachers,  Methodist  literature  was  dif- 
fused through  all  the  land.  Then  the  daring  itinerant, 
who  went  forth  into  distant  regions  to  "  break  up  new 
ground,"  though  in  the  wildest  country  and  among 
the  poorest  people,  was  left  to  the  chances  of  fortune 
or  the  providence  of  God  for  his  support,  and  even  for 
shelter  for  his  head.  Now  the  missionary  spirit  had 
been  evoked  in  the  Church,  and  a  society  had  been 
organized,  which,  though  still  greatly  inadequate,  was 
doing  a  good  work  to  help  forward  the  cause  in  the 
waste  places  and  in  the  frontier  settlements.  The  broad 
foundations  of  a  noble  superstructure  had  been  wisely 
and  firmly  laid.  Many  of  the  fathers  had  been  gathered 
to  their  rest.  Whatcoat,  and  Coke,  and  Asbury,  and 
"Wilson,  and  Branch,  and  Moriarty,  and  Michael  Coate, 
and  Jesse  Lee,  were  no  longer  marshalled  in  the  van  of 
the  sacramental  host ;  but  in  their  places  God  had  raised 
up  other  standard-bearers — ^not  less  single  in  purpose, 
and  not  less  valiant  in  the  conflict.  Thus,  while  the 
instruments  were  subject  to  the  common  frailty  of 
earth,  the  work  itself  possessed  a  perpetuity  that 
demonstrated  its  divine  origin. 


2S4:  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1823. 

It  will  also  be  well  to  glance  at  the  peculiar  means 
by  wbicb  snch  great  results  had  been  realized  ;  or,  in 
other  words,  to  invite  the  attention  of  the  reader  to 
the  gi-and  elements  of  success  in  the  Methodistic 
movement.  Without  at  all  denying  the  providential 
origin  of  Methodism,  we  may  profitably  search  out 
the  secondary  causes — the  instruments  of  Providence 
— ^by  which  its  grand  results  have  been  reahzed. 
Such  inquiries  may  not  only  discover  to  us  the  foun- 
dations of  our  strength,  but  also,  if  the  spirit  of  our 
fathei'B  in  any  degree  remains,  may  lead  us  to  seek 
after  the  "  old  paths."  Isaac  Taylor,  by  far  the  most 
philosophical  writer  that  has  ever  essayed  the  prob- 
lem of  Methodism,  says,  that  "  the  product  of  the 
Methodist  ministrations  was  such  as  has  no  parallel, 
even  in  the  most  exciting  moments  of  the  Eefor- 
mation;  nor  has  it  had  any  parallel  in  these  later 
times." 

The  same  wi'iter  adds:  "In  what  proportion  of 
instances  the  Methodistic  movement,  which  afi'ectedso 
many  thousands  of  hearers  through  its  forty  years  of 
primitive  energy,  did  in  fact  issue  in  producing  a 
godly,  righteous,  and  sober  life,  we  are  not  now  con- 
cerned to  inquire ;  nor  would  such  an  inquiry,  how- 
ever laboriously  instituted,  yield  any  satisfactory 
result.  "Wliat  we  have  to  do  with  is  not  that  which 
can  be  known  only  in  heaven,  but  that  which  is 
patent  and  unquestionable,  namely, — that  Protestant 
doctrine,  proclaimed  by  men  variously  gifted  and 
qualified,  did,  through  a  course  of  years,  and  where- 


1823.] 


ELEMENTS   OF  SUCCESS. 


285 


ever  carried,  affect  the  minds  of  thousands  of  persons, 
not  in  the  way  of  a  transient  excitement,  but  effec- 
tively and  permanently.  The  very  same  things  had 
been  affirmed,  from  year  to  year,  by  able  and  sincere 
preachers,  in  the  hearing  of  congregations  assenting  to 
all  they  heard — not  indeed  altogether  without  effect ; 
yet  with  no  such  effect  as  that  which  ordinarily,  if 
not  invariably,  attended  the  Methodistic  preaching. 
I^or,  if  we  look  beyond  the  pale  of  religious  influ- 
ence, had  any  previous  ministrations  of  the  same 
Protestant  doctrines  taken  hold,  as  this  did,  or  in  any 
remarkable  manner,  of  the  untaught  masses  of  the 
people — the  non-attendants  upon  public  worship — 
the  heathen  million  that  circulates  every  Sunday 
around  churches  and  chapels.  Let  it  be  said — and 
we  hold  it  as  an  undoubted  truth,  and  a  truth  apart 
from  which  the  facts  before  us  must  be  wholly  inexpli- 
cable— that  the  Methodistic  proclamation  of  the  gospel 
was  rendered  effective  by  a  divine  energy,  granted  at 
the  time,  in  a  sovereign  manner,  and  in  an  unwonted 
degree ;  but  this  truth  remembered  always  as  it  ought 
to  be,  the  question  returns, — What  were  the  principal 
elements  of  that  religious  impression  which  Meth- 
odistic preaching  so  generally  produced  ?" 

The  above  sets  forth  precisely  the  question  we 
have  just  proposed  to  ourselves ;  and  also  contains  an 
acknowledgment  and  a  lucid  statement  of  the  facts 
that  will  ever  give  a  lively  interest  to  this  question  in 
the  mind  of  the  Christian  philosopher.  We  may  not 
perhaps  view  the  subject  in  the  same  light  as  Isaac 


286  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1823. 

Taylor,  for  we  contemplate  it  from  an  altogether  dif- 
ferent stand-point, — one,  however,  we  believe,  not  less 
favourable  to  a  candid  and  correct  observation. 

In  the  first  place,  then,  we  would  say  that  in  the 
Methodistic  reformation  there  was  the  revival  of  the 
old  doctrines  of  Christianity,  which,  if  they  had  not 
been  formally  renounced,  had  become  obsolete  and 
powerless.  The  revival  of  these  doctrines,  or  the 
planting  of  a  doctrinal  basis,  however,  could  not 
alone  have  produced  these  results.  Tlie  doctrines  of 
universal  atonement  by  the  blood  of  Jesus,  of  justifica- 
tion by  faith,  of  adoption  and  purification,  and  of  the 
conscious  testimony  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  our  justifi- 
cation knd  adoption, — all  might  have  been  preached 
without  any  such  result.  They  might  have  been  drawn 
out  with  logical  exactness,  and  demonstrated  with 
mathematical  precision,  and  yet  have  been^ — ^as  they 
often  were — so  completely  neutralized  by  cold  for- 
malities, and  by  the  utter  absence  of  that  spirit  which 
constitutes  the  growing  power  of  all  Christian  teach- 
ing, as  to  cause  them  to  fall  powerless  upon  the  dozing 
multitude.  Tlius  a  sound  orthodoxy- — the  shell  of 
Christianity — may  be  maintained,  though  vitalized  by 
the  breath  of  no  living  spirit.  But  these  doctrines, 
as  they  were  preached  by  the  early  heroes  of  Meth- 
odism, fell  directly  upon  the  hearts  of  men,  and 
awakened  that  dormant  religious  consciousness,  or 
innate  sense  of  our  personal  relationship  to  Christ 
as  our  Redeemer  and  Saviour,  and  to  God  as  our 
final  Judge,  which  had  well  nigh  been  extinguished 


1823.] 


ELEMENTS    OF  STCCESS. 


287 


by  the  formalism  of  the  age.  Religion  then  became 
a  reality  to  the  people.  The  heart  is  always  the  strong- 
hold of  sin,  and  the  conscience  is  the  great  avenger 
of  wrong.  Tliese,  however,  can  be  reached,  not  by 
modes,  and  forms,  and  processes  of  reasoning,  but  by 
direct  appeals  coming  from  a  heart  powerfully  quick- 
ened in  its  sensibilities,  and  a  conscience  all  alive  to 
truth  and  God.  In  ancient  times,  when  a  prophet 
came  forth  with  a  "Tlius  saith  the  Lord,"  into  the 
temple  or  public  assemblies  of  God's  ancient  people, 
there  was  something  unexpressed  and  inexpressible 
in  human  language,  that  said  to  the  hearts  of  tlie  mul- 
titude, "  This  is  God's  messenger,"  and  thus  vindicated 
his  authority.  So  in  modem  times,  when  a  man  has 
a  special  mission  from  God,  and  goes  forth  in  the  spirit 
of  that  mission,  every  movement  and  every  word  vin- 
dicates the  authenticity  of  his  message  and  the  genu- 
ineness of  his  mission. 

Again,  this  awakening  of  the  consciousness  of  per- 
sonal relationship  to  God  had  its  correlatives.  First, 
it  completely  annihilated  the  old  Romish  idea  of 
Christianity — an  idea  also  grafted  upon  the  Church 
of  England  and  developed  in  her  organization  and 
spirit — the  idea  that  the  Church  is  to  lift  from  the 
individual  his  personal  responsibility,  and  assume  the 
responsibility  of  his  safe  conveyance  to  heaven.  It 
assumes  that  all  born  within  the  pale  of  the  Church, 
and  all  coming  within  that  pale,  belong  to  the  Church ; 
and  whatever  belongs  to  the  Church  is  entitled, 
through  the  Church,  to  heaven.    Methodism  in  con- 


288  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1823. 

travention  to  this  "Cliurch  idea,"  as  it  has  been 
called,  came  directly  to  the  sinner's  heart  and  con- 
science, and  brought  up  directly  to  his  view,  not  the 
Chm-ch,  but  Christ  as  a  refiige  from  his  sins.  And 
then  again,  having  awakened  the  personal  conscious- 
ness, it  developed  the  elements  of  a  new  life — a  per- 
manent, spiritual,  growing  life. 

Individualizing  was  a  characteristic  of  all  early 
Methodist  preaching.  Each  man  had  his  peculiar 
style:  Wesley  was  sententious  and  solid,  "Whitefield 
was  imaginative  and  impassioned.  Coke  was  discursive 
and  almost  h}']:)ercritical,  Xelson  was  untrammelled  by 
any  principles  of  logic  or  rules  of  rhetoric ;  and  yet  in 
the  preaching  of  all  these  men,  individualizing  was  a 
common,  nay,  universal  characteristic.  They  spoke 
to  the  individual  soul:  "My  message  is  to  tJiee, 
sinner !  I  stand  here  to-day  to  bring  thee  to  bethink 
thyself  of  thy  past  ways.  Thou  who  dost  now  appear 
in  the  presence  of  tliy  God — loathsome  in  thy  sins — I 
challenge  and  command  thee  to  bow  thy  stubborn 
neck,  to  bend  thy  stubborn  knee.  Dost  not  thou — 
even  thou,  ungrateful  as  thou  hast  been  these  many 
years — yea,  a  hardened  rebel  from  thy  mother's  breast 
even  until  now — dost  thou  not  hear  the  Saviour 
calling  to  thee  to  repent  and  to  turn  ?  Was  it  not  for 
thee  that  he  shed  his  blood  ?  Did  he  not  carry  thy 
sorrows  on  Calvary,  even  thine?  Was  he  not 
wounded  for  thy  transgressions?  Did  he  not  think 
of  thee,  of  thy  soul,  and  of  all  its  abominations,  that 
dark  night  when  he  lay  in  agony  on  the  ground  ? 


1823.1 


ELEMENTS   OF  SUCCESS. 


289 


Yes.  It  was  thine  own  sins  that  made  him  sweat 
blood  in  that  garden.  But  now,  with  a  purpose  of 
mercy  in  his  heart  toward  thy  wretched  soul,  he  calls 
thee  to  himself,  and  says — yes,  he  says  it  to  thee — 
^  Come  now,  let  us  reason  together.'  "  Such  is  a  faint 
semblance — for  only  a  faint  semblance  can  be  trans- 
ferred to  paper — of  the  direct,  pungent,  personal,  and 
awakening  appeals  carried  home  by  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  the  sinner's  heart. 

Following  these  philosophical  and  spiritual  ele- 
ments of  Methodism  were  other  elements,  less  fimda- 
mental,  it  may  be,  but  scarcely  less  important.  Their 
extemporaneous  style  of  preaching — so  completely 
adapted  to  the  individualizing  messages,  as  no  other 
style  could  be — was  equally  novel  and  attractive. 
Nor  did  it  lose  any  of  its  power  to  subdue  and  con- 
trol, because  of  homely  style  and  blunt  phrases.  It 
was  a  ministry  of  the  heart,  of  power — to  the  heart, 
and  to  the  masses  of  the  people.  The  systematic 
organization  of  Methodism  guarded  against  a  useless 
expenditm*e,  a  waste  of  this  power.  Its  conferences 
— ^general,  annual  and  quarterly ;  its  districts,  cir- 
cuits, and  itinerancy ;  its  social  convocations,  in 
which  Christian  experience  was  nurtured  and  Chris- 
tian zeal  was  inspired  anew;  its  school  of  constant 
exercise,  where  large  use  was  made  of  the  smallest 
talent  and  gi*eat  gains  realized  from  it, — these  were 
some  of  the  minor  agencies  that  co-worked  with  the 
higher  elements  of  the  Methodistic  reformation. 
Without  those  higher  elements,  these  might  have 


290  LIFE    AXD   TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1823. 

existed,  but  they  would  have  beeu  emj^ty  and  unpro- 
ductive. On  the  other  hand,  without  these,  those 
higher  principles  would  have  wasted  their  energy  in 
spasmodic  manifestations.  Such  is  a  faint  outline 
picture  of  the  genius  of  Methodism,  providentially 
raised  up  by  God  to  be  an  efficient  co-worker  in 
spreading  Scripture  holiness  over  all  these  lands. 

Isow  if  we  carefully  examine  these  elements,  or 
even  these  organic  provisions,  there  is  not  one  in  the 
whole  series  that  may  not  exist  in  perpetuity.  There 
is,  then,  no  elemental  cause,  unless  it  be  found  in 
principles  of  our  natm-e  not  here  brought  to  view, 
why  Methodism  might  not  have  retained  its  pris- 
tine energy  and  its  aggressive  conquests  till  God's 
purpose  had  been  realized  in  the  complete  destruction 
of  Satan's  empire  among  men. 

We  can  pursue  this  investigation  no  further.  Our 
limits  have  allowed  us  only  a  glance  at  some  of  the 
most  important  aspects  of  the  question,  and  of  others 
we  could  give  only  fragmentary  glimpses.  We  must 
now  return  to  the  thread  of  our  narrative. 

At  the  session  of  the  conference  for  1823,  Mr. 
Hedding  was  elected,  as  he  had  been  four  times 
before,  to  represent  that  body  in  the  General  Con- 
ference. The  vote  for  him  had  been  uniformly  almost 
unanimous.  It  is  said  that  he  never  lacked  more 
than  two  or  three  of  the  entire  number  of  votes  cast. 
The  conference  elected  fourteen  delegates,  and  among 
them  are  the  names  of  Pickering,  Merritt,  Mudge, 
Merrill,  Kilbum,  Lindsey,  Fisk,  Hoyt,  and  others.  In 


1823.]    DELEGATE   TO   GENERAL  CONFERENCE.  291 

the  unanimity  of  the  vote  cast  for  him  as  a  delegate 
by  the  members  of  his  conference,  and  in  the  hearty 
and  cordial  support  given  to  him  for  the  episcopal 
office  by  his  brethren,  we  have  evidence  of  the  esti- 
mation in  which  he  was  held  by  them — especially 
those  who  had  known  him  longest  and  who  knew 
him  best.  It  will  not  be  too  much  to  say  that  his 
subsequent  career  abundantly  proved  that  this  con- 
fidence was  not  misplaced. 

The  General  Conference  of  1824  and  the  election 
of  Mr.  Hedding  to  the  episcopal  office,  will  form  the 
subject  of  our  next  chapter. 

13 


292  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 


CHAPTEK  X. 

GENERAL  CONFEREXCE  OP  1824,  AND  MR  HEDDING'S 
ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPACY. 

Representation  in  the  General  Conference  —  British  Delegation  —  Address 
of  the  Bishops — Educational  Demands  upon  the  Church  —  Religious 
Education  of  the  Children  —  Seminaries  and  Public  Schools  —  Mission- 
ary Society  —  Book  Concern  —  Slavery  and  the  "  Tenth  Section  "  —  Me- 
morials on  Lay  Delegation  —  Action  of  the  Conference  —  Reasons  As- 
signed—  The  Presiding-Elder  Question  —  Ballotings  for  Bishops  —  IVIr. 
Bedding's  Election  —  His  Reluctance  to  being  a  Candidate  —  Rev.  E, 
Mudge's  Account  —  Feelings  after  Election  —  Subsequent  Resolution  of  the 
Conference  —  Accepts  the  Office  and  is  ordained  —  Fitness  for  the  Office. 

The  General  Conference  of  1824  commenced  its  ses- 
sion in  the  city  of  Baltimore  on  the  1st  day  of  May, 
as  usual.  Twelve  conferences  were  represented  by 
one  hundred  and  thirty-three  delegates,  distributed 
as  follows :  IS'ew-York  Conference,  seventeen ;  'New- 
England,  fourteen ;  Genesee,  twelve ;  Ohio,  fifteen  ; 
Kentucky,  eight ;  Missouri,  five  ;  Tennessee,  ten ; 
Mississippi,  three ;  South  Carolina,  eleven ;  Yirginia, 
nine  ;  Baltimore,  fifteen ;  Philadelphia,  fourteen.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  strong  men  of  the  Church  in 
that  day  are  found  in  this  list  of  delegates,  and 
questions  of  great  moment  were  to  be  discussed  and 
decided  by  them.  Bishops  M'Kendree,  George,  and 
Roberts  were  present. 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1820,  Eev.  John 
Emory  had  been  appointed  delegate  to  the  "Wesleyan 


1824.1 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 


293 


Conference  in  England,  in  order  to  promote  fraternal 
relations  between  the  two  great  Wesleyan  bodies. 
At  this  session,  Kev.  Richard  Reece,  with  Eev.  John 
Hannah  as  his  travelling  companion,  appeared  as  the 
representative  of  that  body  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States.  The  first  day  of 
the  session  was  spent  mainly  in  the  organization  of 
the  conference,  appointment  of  committees,  &c.  On 
the  second  day  the  British  delegates  were  introduced 
by  Bishop  M'Kendree,  and  the  reading  of  the  address 
of  the  British  Conference  was  followed  by  a  neat  ad- 
dress from  Rev.  Richard  Reece.  Both  these  addresses 
evinced  the  kindest  sympathy  with  the  Church  in  this 
country,  and  a  strong  and  sincere  desire  to  preserve 
more  intimate  fraternal  relations  with  it. 

After  this  the  address  of  the  bishops  was  presented. 
Among  the  topics  brought  to  the  consideration  of 
the  conference,  in  this  document,  were  the  state  and 
progress  of  the  work,  the  necessity  of  increasing  the 
number  of  superintendents,  the  division  and  chang- 
ing of  the  boundaries  of  some  of  the  annual  confer- 
ences, memorials  on  the  subject  of  our  Church  gov- 
ernment, peculiar  condition  of  the  work  in  Canada, 
the  Book  Concern  and  the  circulation  of  our  books, 
the  local  district  conferences,  the  financial  system  of 
the  Church,  the  instruction  and  education  of  our 
children  and  youth,  the  importance  of  supporting  the 
plan  of  an  itinerant  ministry,  and  of  preserving  the 
union  and  integrity  of  the  Church.  These  subjects 
were  referred  to  the  appropriate  committees. 


294  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1824. 

The  subject  of  education  engaged  the  earnest  atten- 
tion of  the  conference.  Multitudes  of  young  people 
had  been  gathered  into  the  church  and  congrega- 
tions, or  were  connected  with  it  as  the  children  of 
its  members — for  the  moral  and  mental  training  of 
which  she  could  not  but  recognise  her  obligations. 
In  the  short  period  of  fifty-one  years  her  member- 
ship had  run  up  from  one  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixty,  with  ten  preachers,  to  thi-ee  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-three, 
with  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-two 
preachers.  Having  "everything  to  do" — all  her 
societies  to  organize,  her  churches  and  parsonages 
to  build,  and  that  too  among  a  comparatively  poor 
people — it  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise  that,  with  such 
a  rapid  expansion  of  her  work  and  her  responsibili- 
ties, she  should  be  found  with  inadequate  provision 
to  meet  them.  This  conference  seemed  disposed  to 
recognise  the  full  measure  of  its  obligation  both  as  to 
the  religious  care  of  the  children,  and  also  the  more 
general  education  of  all  young  persons  under  the 
influence  of  the  Church. 

To  meet  the  former  want,  it  was  proposed  that  every 
preacher  should  obtain  the  names  of  the  children 
connected  with  his  charge,  form  them  into  classes  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  them  rehgious  instruction,  and 
that,  so  far  as  practicable,  he  should  instruct  them 
in  person.  Had  this  provision  been  faithfully  car- 
ried out  in  every  circuit  and  station  for  the  past  thirty 
years,  how  vast  the  influence  it  would  have  had  upon 


1824.] 


EDUCATIONAL  INTERESTS. 


295 


the  character  and  destinies  of  the  Church  !  Within 
this  thirty  years,  what  an  intelligent  membership 
should  we  have  raised  up !  What  multitudes  of  our 
children  and  youth,  by  being  early  instructed  in  the 
Scriptures  and  in  Methodism,  would  have  been  pre- 
vented from  growing  up  in  frivolity,  in  indijQTer- 
ence  to  religious  things,  and  in  sin!  How  many 
would  have  been  prevented  from  gi-owing  up  without 
any  special  ties  of  attachment,  or  feelings  of  venera- 
tion for  the  Church  that  should  have  been  their 
"nursing  mother,"  and  thus  left  to  wander  away 
into  the  world,  or  perchance  into  other  Christian  com- 
munions !  What  a  host  of  teachers  in  our  Sunday 
schools  and  in  our  schools  of  general  learning,  of  in- 
telligent and  active  official  members  in  the  Church, 
and  of  ministers  and  missionaries,  might  have  been 
raised  up  to  do  battle  for  God — even  from  among 
those  now  completely  lost  to  us,  if  not  to  God  and 
heaven!  Thanks  be  to  God!  our  Sunday  schools 
are  now  doing  a  good  work  in  these  respects ;  but 
they  can  never  answer  as  a  substitute  for  either 
parental  religious  education,  or  that  religious  instruc- 
tion which  may  be  imparted  so  efficiently  by  one 
reverenced  as  is  the  pastor  of  a  Church  by  the  chil- 
dren of  his  flock. 

To  meet  the  second  want,  the  conference  renewed 
the  recommendation  of  1820,  that  every  annual  con- 
ference put  forth  its  utmost  exertions  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  seminary  of  learning  within  its  bounds ; 
and  also  that  every  travelling  preacher  keep  in  mind 


296  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

the  importance  of  having  suitable  teachers  employed 
in  the  instruction  of  the  youth  of  our  country,  and  to 
use  his  influence  to  introduce  teachers  into  schools 
whose  learning,  piety,  and  religious  tenets  were  such 
as  would  insm-e  the  right  moral  education  of  the 
young.  Tlie  former  recommendation  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  origin  of  that  grand  movement  which 
has  given  birth  to  so  many  noble  institutions  of  learn- 
ing in  almost  every  part  of  the  Church.  The  second, 
owing  to  the  constant  change  of  our  ministers  in 
accordance  with  our  itinerant  system,  was  encum- 
bered with  some  difficulties,  as  a  new  resident  in  a 
place  cannot  always  command  that  local  influence, 
even  though  he  be  a  minister,  nor  can  he  possess  that 
thorough  knowledge  of  local  interests  which  would  be 
requisite  in  order  to  have  the  recommendation  effi- 
ciently carried  out.  ISTevertheless,  it  suggests  an  obli- 
gation of  great  practical  importance,  and  one  of  which 
the  minister  of  Christ  should  never  lose  sight. 

The  operations  of  the  infant  Missionary  Society 
also  claimed  the  attention  of  the  General  Conference ; 
and  among  other  provisions  made,  preliminary  steps 
were  taken  for  the  establishment  of  a  mission  in  Li- 
beria and  the  appointment  of  missionaries  to  labour 
there. 

The  interests  of  the  Book  Concern  were  also  care- 
fully considered :  Nathan  Bangs  and  John  Emory 
were  appointed  agents.  The  Magazine  was  contin- 
ued, and  authority  given  for  the  issue  of  a  weekly 
paper,  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  which 


1824.1 


LAY  DELEGATION. 


297 


was  commenced  in  1826.  Up  to  the  present,  this 
continues  to  be  the  most  widely-circulated  religious 
journal  of  the  kind  in  the  country,  if  not  in  the 
world. 

The  question  of  slavery,  everywhere  present  in 
the  councils  of  the  Church  and  of  the  state,  found  its 
way  into  this  body  ;  and  after  no  little  discussion  and 
feeling,  the  celebrated  "  Tenth  Section  "  was  elabo- 
rated and  adopted  precisely  as  it  now  appears  in  the 
Methodist  Discipline. 

Among  the  most  exciting  questions  before  the  body 
at  this  session  was  that  of  "lay  delegation"  in  the 
General  and  Annual  Conferences.  Memorials  and 
petitions  from  local  preachers  and  from  lay-members 
had  come  up  from  different  parts  of  the  work  request- 
ing the  privilege  of  a  voice  in  the  legislative  depart- 
ment of  the  Church.  This  subject  received  the  ear- 
nest attention  of  the  conference.  There  was  a  strong 
desire  to  give  a  full  hearing  to  the  memorialists,  and 
to  weigh  carefully  the  arguments  they  presented. 
But  the  conference  became  satisfied  that  so  radical  a 
change  in  the  economy  of  the  Church  would  be  a 
hazardous  experiment,  and  therefore  declined  to 
make  it. 

They  deemed  the  subject,  however,  of  so  much  im- 
portance as  to  send  forth  a  circular  to  the  petitioners 
and  memorialists,  showing  the  fallacies  and  miscon- 
ceptions with  reference  to  rights  set  forth  in  the  memo- 
rials, and  also  the  reasons  which  induced  the  body  to 
decline  the  changes  proposed.    With  reference  to  the 


298  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

reasons  assigned  for  the  proposed  change,  the  confer- 
ence says :  "  We  rejoice  to  know  that  the  proposed 
change  is  not  contemplated  as  a  remedy  for  evils  which 
now  exist  in  some  infraction  of  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges  of  the  people,  as  defined  to  them  by  the  form 
of  Discipline ;  but  that  it  is  offered,  either  in  antici- 
pation of  the  possible  existence  of  such  evils,  or  else 
on  a  supposition  of  abstract  rights,  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  some,  should  form  the  basis  of  our  gov- 
ernment." Upon  the  question  of  abstract  rights  and 
privileges  urged  by  some  of  the  memorialists,  drawn 
from  the  analogy  instituted  between  the  state  and 
the  Church,  they  reply :  "  K  by  rights  and  privileges 
it  is  intended  to  signify  something  foreign  from  the 
institutions  of  the  Church,  as  we  received  them  from 
our  fathers,  pardon  us  if  we  know  no  such  rights — if 
we  do  not  comprehend  such  privileges.  With  our 
brethren  everywhere  we  rejoice  that  the  institutions 
of  our  happy  country  are  admirably  calculated  to 
secure  the  best  ends  of  civil  government.  With  their 
rights  as  citizens  of  these  United  States,  the  Church 
disclaims  all  interference;  but  that  it  should  be 
inferred  from  these  what  are  your  rights  as  Methodists, 
seems  to  us  no  less  surprising  than  if  your  Methodism 
should  be  made  the  criterion  of  your  rights  as  citi- 
zens." 

The  main  reasons  assigned  for  the  inexpediency  of 
the  proposed  change  are,  in  substance,  that  it  would 
tend  to  create  a  distinction  of  interests  between  the 
itinerancy  and  the  membership  of  the  Church — that 


1824.]      THE   PRESIDING-ELDER   QUESTION.,  299 

it  presupposes  that  tlie  authority  of  the  General  Con- 
ference, or  the  manner  of  exercising  it,  is  displeasing 
to  the  Church,  whereas  the  reverse  appeared  to  be  the 
case — that  it  would  involve  a  tedious  procedure,  incon- 
venient in  itself,  and  calculated  to  agitate  the  Church 
to  her  injury — and  finally,  that  it  would  give  those 
districts  which  are  conveniently  situated,  and  could 
therefore  secure  the  attendance  of  their  delegates, 
an  undue  influence  in  the  government  of  the  Church. 
Many  of  the  memorialists  on  further  reflection,  and 
upon  carefully  weighing  the  reasons  assigned  by  the 
General  Conference  for  not  granting  their  request, 
became  satisfied  that  the  change  was  of  less  import- 
ance to  themselves  than  they  had  at  first  supposed, 
and  that  the  objections  to  so  radical  a  change  in  our 
economy  had  not  been  by  them  fully  comprehended, 
and  they  were  therefore  contented  to  remain  in  the 
Church  and  to  sustain  its  organization  as  it  was. 
Others  subsequently  withdrew  from  the  connexion 
and  organized  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 

But  the  most  exciting  of  all  questions,  and  that 
upon  which  the  conflicting  parties  in  the  conference 
were  more  nearly  balanced,  was  "  the  presiding-elder 
question."  The  measures  adopted  by  the  General 
Conference  of  1820,  as  we  have  already  seen,  were 
suspended  for  four  years.  Those  opposed  to  them  were 
not  sufficiently  confident  of  their  strength  at  this  con- 
ference to  attempt  their  repeal,  and  therefore  moved 
a  continuance  of  the  suspension  for  four  years  longer. 
Then  came  the  "  tug  of  war."  Every  member  was  on 
13^ 


300       ^    LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1824, 

the  alert.  "Warm  and  earnest  was  the  discussion. 
When  the  vote  was  about  to  be  taken,  it  was  recol- 
lected that  one  of  the  delegates,  by  the  appointment 
of  the  conference,  was  then  preaching  in  a  church 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  A  messenger  was 
despatched  post-haste,  and  finding  him  in  the  midst 
of  his  sermon,  he  came  behind  him  in  the  pulpit, 
twitched  his  coat  to  arrest  his  attention,  and  then 
hastily  communicated  the  call  for  his  presence  in  the 
General  Conference.  Leaving  the  messenger  to  make 
his  apology  to  the  congregation,  and  also  to  close  the 
services,  the  preacher  hastened  to  his  post  in  the  con- 
ference. Here  he  arrived,  panting  for  breath  and 
bathed  with  perspiration,  just  after  the  decision  in 
favour  of  postponement  had  been  announced.  As 
this  decision  accorded  with  his  views,  he  was  content 
to  let  the  matter  rest. 

This  question  entered  largely  into  the  canvass  for 
the  election  of  bishops.  The  conference  having  de- 
termined upon  the  election  of  two,  each  party  brought 
forward  their  strong  candidates.  On  the  one  side 
Joshua  Soule  and  "William  Beauchamp,  and  on  the 
other  Elijah  Hedding  and  John  Emory,  were  brought 
forward  for  the  suffrages  of  their  brethren.  On  the 
first  ballot  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
votes  cast,  requiring  sixty-five  for  an  election.  Joshua 
Soule  had  sixty-four,  Elijah  Hedding  sixty-one,  "Wil- 
liam Beauchamp  sixty-two,  John  Emory  fifty-nine, 
and  ten  scattering.  On  the  second  ballot  Joshua 
Soule  had  sixty-five,  and  was  elected;  Elijah  Hedding 


1824.] 


ELECTED  BI6H0P. 


301 


sixty-four,  William  Beauchamp  sixty-two,  and  John 
Emory  fifty-eight,  and  five  scattering.  Eev.  John 
Emory  then  withdrew  his  name  from  the  canvass ; 
and,  on  ballotting  a  third  time,  Ehjah  Hedding 
received  sixty-six  votes,  and  was  elected.  On  this 
ballotting  William  Beauchamp  received  sixty  votes, 
and  there  were  two  scattering. 

In  1820,  many  of  his  brethren  had  desired  Mr. 
Hedding's  consent  to  be  placed  in  nomination  for 
the  episcopal  office ;  but  this  he  absolutely  refused. 
Early  in  the  session  of  this  conference  the  minds  of  a 
large  portion  of  his  brethren  seemed  to  centre  upon 
him  again.  It  was,  however,  with  extreme  reluctance 
that  he  allowed  his  name  to  be  used.  This  reluctance 
was  sincere  and  unaffected.  The  Kev.  Enoch  Mudge 
says :  "  I  believe  I  was  the  first  who  named  to  him  at 
the  General  Conference  that  a  number  of  his  brethren 
had  determined  to  bring  him  forward  as  a  candidate 
for  the  episcopal  office.  Although  it  is  a  true  saying 
that  if  a  man  desireth  the  office  of  a  hishop  he  desireth 
a  good  worh^  it  is  certainly  not  what  he  desired  or 
sought.  I  well  remember  how  it  affected  him.  He 
wept,  remonstrated,  and  urged  a  number  of  objections 
against  the  movement.  I  urged  such  considerations 
as  appeared  to  me  to  be  valid,  and  in  view  of  which 
I  thought  he  ought  not  to  object.  He  yielded  in  the 
end,  but  only  because  he  was  constrained  to  do  so  by  the 
united  and  m-gent  solicitations  of  his  northern  breth- 
ren." After  the  chair  had  announced  his  election,  Mr. 
Hedding  says :  "Many  of  my  dear  brethren  rejoiced, 


302  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1824. 

and  presented  me  tlieir  kindest  congratulations ;  but 
my  heart  smik  within  me,  and  a  gloomy  impression 
that  I  had  consented  to  undertake  what  I  could  never 
accomplish  overwhelmed  me."  His  main  objections 
seemed  to  be,  first,  a  deep  conviction  that  he  was  not 
possessed  of  either  the  piety  or  the  administrative  qual- 
ifications requisite  for  the  office ;  and,  secondly,  the 
infirm  and  uncertain  state  of  his  health. 

At  a  suitable  time,  Mr.  Hedding  expressed  his 
feelings  and  convictions  upon  the  subject  to  the  con- 
ference. So  great  was  the  sense  of  unworthiness  and 
unfitness  that  had  come  upon  him,  that  he  doubted 
whether  he  could  consent  to  be  ordained ;  and  re- 
quested time  to  consider  the  subject,  and  to  pray  for 
divine  direction.  After  making  this  statement  with 
teal's,  he  retired  from  the  Church.  Immediately  after 
his  departure  the  following  resolution  was  presented 
and  unanimously  passed  by  the  conference  : — 

''''Resolved^  That  we  do  entertain  unlimited  con- 
fidence in  the  integrity,  ability,  and  ministerial  worth 
of  our  beloved  brother,  Elijah  Hedding ;  and  he  having 
signified  to  the  General  Conference  some  hesitancy  of 
receiving  episcopal  ordination,  arising,  as  we  beHeve, 
out  of  his  own  humble  views  of  his  qualifications,  as 
well  as  on  account  of  impaired  health,  we  aflfectionately 
request  him  to  submit  himself  to  the  call  of  Providence 
and  of  the  Church,  and  receive  ordination  to  the  office 
of  a  bishop. 

(Signed,)  "  W.  Capees, 

W.  WiNANS." 


1824.]  FITNESS    FOR   THE    OFFICE.  303 


This  resolution  being  introduced  by  brethren  who 
differed  from  him  on  the  great  question  that  had  agi- 
tated the  body,  and  being  so  cordially  sustained  by  those 
who  coincided  with  them  on  that  question,  removed 
any  objection  that  existed  in  his  own  mind  on  that 
score,  and  made  it  still  more  conclusive  that  his  call  to 
the  episcopal  office  was  a  providential  call.  He  then 
retm*ned  to  the  body,  and  stated  that  he  must  receive 
the  voice  of  the  Church  as  the  voice  of  God  in  the 
matter,  and  therefore  would  submit  himself  to  their 
direction. 

Subsequently  a  similar  resolution  was  passed  in 
relation  to  Bishop  Soule,  both  parties  generally  con- 
curring. Rev.  Joshua  Soule  and  Rev.  Elijah  Hed- 
ding  were,  on  the  28th  of  the  month,  duly  set  apart 
and  consecrated  to  the  episcopal  office. 

Bishop  Hedding  brought  to  the  episcopal  office  a 
sound  and  deep  piety,  whose  ardour  had  not  been 
abated  through  a  period  of  nearly  twenty-six  years — 
most  of  which  had  been  spent  in  laborious  service, 
and  in  the  midst  of  many  trials  and  privations  in  the 
cause  of  Christ.  His  mind,  naturally  clear  and  dis- 
criminating, had  been  well  matured  by  reading  and 
study,  by  intercourse  with  men,  and  by  a  large  and 
well-improved  experience.  He  was  possessed  of 
great  simplicity  and  sincerity  of  manner — a  peculiar 
and  confiding  openness  in  his  intercourse  with  his 
brethren,  that  at  once  won  their  confidence  and  affec- 
tion. At  the  same  time,  his  natural  dignity  and  great 
discretion  made  him  an  object  of  reverence  as  well  as 


304  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

of  affection.  Also  ids  great  shrewdness,  and  his  almost 
instinctive  insight  into  the  character  of  men,  guarded 
him  from  becoming  the  dupe  of  the  crafty  and  designing. 
His  heart  was  as  true  as  it  was  large  in  its  sympathies. 
His  brethren  never  in  vain  sought  his  counsel  or  his 
sympathy.  It  was  evident  to  all  that  he  had  one  ob- 
ject in  view — ^the  salvation  of  men  and  the  glory  of 
God.  In  the  exercise  of  the  episcopal  functions  he 
developed  those  rare  qualifications  that  had  distin- 
guished him  as  a  presiding  officer,  and  especially  as 
an  expounder  of  ecclesiastical  law.  The  soundness 
of  his  views  upon  the  doctrines  and  disciphne  of  the 
Church  has  been  bo  fully  and  so  universally  conceded, 
that  in  the  end  he  became  almost  an  oracle  in  the 
Church  in  these  respects ;  and  his  opinions  are  re- 
garded with  profound  veneration. 


1824.]       DIVISION   OF  EPISCOPAL    LABOUR.  305 


CHAPTEE  XI. 

FIRST  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUR. 

Division  of  Episcopal  Labour  —  Bishops  George  and  Hedding  attend  the 
New-York  Conference  —  Bishop  Hedding  makes  Lynn  his  Residence  — 
New-England  Conference  —  Joshua  Randle  —  Bishop  George's  Opinion  of 
his  Colleague — Genesee  Conference  —  Cazenovia  Seminary  —  Proposed 
Tour  in  Canada — Excitement  there  —  Rate  of  Travel  —  Incident  in 
Toronto  —  Hardships — A  Log-cabin  Tavern  —  Difficulties  compromised 

—  Henry  Ryan  —  Close  of  Conference  —  Progress  of  the  Church  during 
the  Year  —  Sickness  —  A  Hard  Ride  —  Reaches  Home  in  March  —  Diffi- 
culties of  Travel  —  Starts  for  Philadelphia — Desponding  Letter  —  Phila- 
delphia, New- York,  New-England,  and  Maine  Conferences  —  State  of  the 
Work  in  Maine  —  Journey  to  Northern  New-York  —  Letter  to  his  Wife 

—  Genesee  Conference — Canada  Conference  —  Progress  of  the  Work  — 
Summation  for  the  Year  —  Returns  Home — A  Wayside  Incident  —  Win- 
ter of  1825-6  —  Meeting  of  the  Bishops  in  Baltimore  —  Failure  to  ap- 
point a  Delegate  to  the  British  Conference — Philadelphia  and  New- 
York  Conferences  —  Genesee  Conference  —  Letter  to  his  Wife  —  Pitts- 
burgh Conference  —  The  "  Radical  Movement"  —  Mr.  Hedding's  Address 
to  the  Conference  —  Plain  Talk  in  the  Cabinet  —  Changes  two  Presiding 
Elders  —  Letter  to  Mrs.  Hedding  —  The  Ohio  Conference  —  Return  to 
Lynn  —  Results  of  another  Year  —  Starts  again  —  A  Letter  —  Philadel- 
phia and  New-York  Conferences  —  Difficulties  in  Stationing  Preachers  — 
An  Illustrative  Instance  —  The  True  Course  for  a  Young  Preacher  —  New- 
England  Conference  —  Fever  and  Ague  —  Journey  to  Portland  —  Maine 
Conference  —  Jom-ney  Westward  —  The  Canada  Conference  —  Prevailing 
Drought  —  Sickness  of  Preachers  —  Visits  the  Indian  Mission  Stations  in 
Canada  —  Interesting  Anecdotes  of  Converted  Indians  —  Reading  the  Tes- 
tament without  learning  the  Letters  —  Indians  at  Rice  Lake  —  Visit  to 
Grape  Island  —  Bark  Canoe  —  Novel  Mode  of  Landing  —  Captain  Beaver 

—  Preaches  to  the  Indians  —  Sermon  of  Peter  Jones  —  Church  Labour 
with  an  Erring  Brother  —  Curious  Questions  —  Estimate  of  the  Work 
among  the  Indians  —  Journey  to  Troy  —  Dedicates  State-street  Church 
— Reaches  Home — End  of  the  Year — Maine  Wesley  an  Seminary — Bishop 
Hedding's  Interest  in  our  Educational  Movements. 

There  were  now  five  bishops  in  the  Church,  and  fifteen 
annual  conferences.    Bishop  M'Kendree,  however, 


306  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

was  too  feeble,  by  reason  of  his  age  and  his  bodily 
infirmities,  to  perform  the  regular  work  of  a  superin- 
tendent ;  and  the  General  Conference  had  requested 
him  to  perform  only  so  much  as  he  found  consistent 
with  his  health  and  strength.  At  his  suggestion  the 
following  division  of  labour  was  agreed  upon  for  the 
year:  Bishops  Roberts  and  Soule  were  to  take  the 
supervision  of  the  Baltimore  and  Kentucky  Con- 
ferences, and  all  the  conferences  south  and  southwest 
of  them ;  while  Bishops  George  and  Hedding  were 
to  take  the  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburgh  Conferences, 
and  all  the  conferences  north  and  northeast  of  them. 

Accordingly,  after  the  close  of  the  session  of  the 
General  Conference,  Bishop  Hedding,  in  company 
with  Bishop  George,  proceeded  to  New- York  city  to 
attend  the  IS'ew-York  Conference,  which  was  to  be 
held  in  the  Wesleyan  Seminary.  They  agreed  that, 
as  far  as  possible,  they  would  attend  the  conferences 
assigned  to  them  in  company,  and  mutually  share  the 
lal)Ours  and  responsibilities  of  each  conference. 

At  the  close  of  conference  they  left  for  Barnard, 
Vermont,  where  the  New-England  Conference  was  to 
meet  on  the  22d  of  June.  Leaving  his  colleague  to 
go  by  a  more  direct  route.  Bishop  Hedding  made  a 
detour  to  Boston,  where  he  had  been  stationed  the 
preceding  two  years,  in  order  to  settle  up  his  affairs 
preparatory  to  the  conference.  Having  determined 
to  make  Lynn  his  residence,' — so  far  as  it  was  possible 
in  those  days  for  a  Methodist  bishop  to  have  any  local 
residence, — he  packed  up  his  goods  in  the  short  time 


1824.]  NEW-ENGLAND   CONFERENCE.  307 

he  had,  and  sent  them  on  to  be  stored  in  that  place, 
till  a  respite  from  his  official  duties  should  allow  him 
an  opportunity  to  prepare  for  housekeeping.  Then, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  he  started  to  meet  Bishop 
George  at  the  seat  of  the  conference. 

The  session  of  the  conference  proved  a  time  of 
unusual  religious  interest.  The  Sabbath  was  a  high 
and  glorious  day.  The  people  poured  in  from  all  the 
surrounding  region.  Bishops  George  and  Hedding 
both  preached  with  great  power  to  the  assembled  mul- 
titude, in  a  gi-ove  near  by  the  church.  Twenty-seven 
travelling,  and  several  local  preachers,  were  ordained 
deacons.  Among  the  former  were  A.  D.  Merrill  and 
A.  D.  Sargeant,  long  and  favourably  known  as  eminent 
ministers  of  the  cross  of  Christ ;  also  Melville  B.  Cox, 
who,  not  many  years  after,  offered  himself  a  noble 
sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  Africa's  redemption ;  and  also 
Orange  Scott,  whose  noble  powers  were  subsequently 
betrayed  into  a  warfare  against  the  Chm-ch  in  whose 
lap  they  had  been  warmed  into  life.  Eight  travelling 
and  several  local  ministers  were  also  ordained  elders. 
Among  these  were  Jotham  Horton,  Phineas  Crandall, 
and  Charles  Baker — the  first  of  whom  ceased  from 
his  labours  in  1853,  at  which  time  the  other  two  were 
still  in  the  effective  ranks,  one  on  the  Worcester  and 
the  other  on  the  Springfield  District,  in  the  old  'New- 
England  Conference. 

Mr.  Hedding  was  greeted  by  his  brethren  in  the 
conference  with  every  manifestation  of  affection  and 
confidence.    The  following  resolution  was  proposed 


308  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

and  unaiiimously  passed,  expressive  of  their  great 
satisfaction  at  his  election  to  the  episcopal  office : — 
''''Resolved^  That  this  conference  hereby  express  their 
cordial  and  entire  approbation  of  the  election  and 
ordination  of  brother  Elijah  Hedding,  one  of  the 
members  of  this  conference,  to  the  episcopal  office. 
We  also  request  Bishop  Hedding  to  locate  his  family 
within  the  bounds  of  this  conference,  and  spend  as 
much  of  his  time  among  ns  as  he  can  spare,  without 
interfering  with  the  duties  of  his  office." 

At  this  conference  Joshua  Randle  was  tried  for 
heresy,  and  suspended,  for  the  time  being,  from  the 
exercise  of  his  ministerial  functions.  The  singular 
theological  dogma  he  had  assumed  was,  in  substance, 
that  while  Christ  died  to  atone  for  original  sin^  he 
made  no  atonement  for  actual  transgressions ;  hut 
for  these  the  transgressor  might  he  pardoned  without 
an  atonement.  Two  years  before,  at  the  session  of 
the  conference  held  in  Bath,  Maine,  he  had  been  con- 
victed of  holding  and  teaching  this  dangerous  heresy, 
and  required  by  the  conference  to  cease  advocating 
such  doctrines,  whether  publicly  or  privately,  so  long 
as  he  remained  a  minister  among  us.  During  the 
year  preceding  this  conference  the  old  man  could  not 
keep  quiet,  but  agitated  his  peculiar  notions  among 
the  people  and  preachers.  The  conference  found  it 
necessary  to  take  away  his  parchments,  and  from  this 
decision  he  appealed  to  the  next  General  Conference ; 
but,  in  1826,  we  find  him  returned  "expelled"  on  the 
Minutes  of  the  !N"ew-England  Conference.    This  sub- 


1824.] 


GENESEE  CONFERENCE. 


309 


ject  attracted  more  than  usual  attention  a  few  years 
after,  from  its  appearance  in  another  relation  before 
the  General  Conference.  Mr.  Handle  defended  him- 
self before  the  General  Conference ;  and  the  action 
of  the  New-England  Conference  was  vindicated  by 
Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk  in  an  overwhelming  argument. 
The  General  Conference  confirmed  the  decision  of 
the  [N'ew-England  Conference  by  a  vote  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-four  to  one. 

Bishop  Hedding  had  now  exercised  his  new  duties 
at  two  conferences,  in  company  with  Bishop  George, 
who,  in  a  letter  to  Bishop  Roberts,  under  date  of  June 
6th,  says  of  him,  "  My  colleague  does  excellently  in 
his  new  ofiice." 

After  the  close  of  the  ISTew-England  Conference 
the  two  bishops  journeyed  across  the  Green  Moun- 
tains, visiting  the  Churches  at  Lansingburgh,  Troy, 
Utica,  and  many  other  places  on  their  way  to  Lansing, 
on  the  east  side  of  Cayuga  Lake,  where  they  met  the 
Genesee  Conference  on  the  25th  of  July. 

The  Genesee  Conference  at  this  time  embraced 
all,  or  nearly  all,  that  territory  now  included  in  the 
Genesee,  East  Genesee,  Oneida,  Black  River,  and 
Wyoming  Conferences.  That  great  and  promising 
field  was  cultivated  by  a  noble  band  of  men  ;  among 
whom  were  George  Lane,  George  Gary,  Elias  Bowen, 
George  Peck,  Abner  Chase,  J.  B.  Alverson,  Z.  Pad- 
dock, John  Dempster,  1.  Chamberlayne,  Seth  Matti- 
son,  G.  Fillmore,  and  others  known  throughout  the 
Church.    At  that  time  there  was  in  this  whole 


310  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

region  a  membersliip  •  of  twenty-four  thousand  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  travelling  preachers;  at  the  close  of  1853,  on 
the  same  territory,  there  were  five  annual  confer- 
ences, embracing  eighty-one  thousand  six  hundred 
and  thirty-two  members,  and  six  hundred  and  ninety- 
one  preachers.  Bishop  Hedding  was  now  among 
brethren  with  whom  he  was  comparatively  unac- 
quainted. His  first  endeavour  was  to  become  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  as  many  of  them  as  possible. 
His  remarkably  tenacious  memory  was  here  put  into 
very  successful  requisition;  for  he  says,  "In  a  few 
days  I  found  that  I  could  recognise  and  call  by  name 
nearly  every  brother  upon  the  floor." 

This  year  the  plan  proposed  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence for  the  promotion  of  education  in  the  Church,  was 
carried  into  effect  within  the  bounds  of  this  confer- 
ence by  the  establishment  of  the  Cazenovia  Seminary. 
It  was  incoi-porated  by  the  state  legislature,  and 
commenced  its  career  under  the  most  favourable 
auspices.  This  was  the  opening  of  a  new  era  for 
Methodism ;  and  the  visions  of  good  to  the  Church, 
seen  only  by  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  noble  few 
who  were  fuUy  alive  to  the  importance  of  our  educa- 
tional interests,  have  been  fully  reahzed  in  the  result. 
It  has  given  a  host  of  strong  men  to  the  Church,  and 
exerted  an  influence  on  Methodism  in  aU  that  region. 
Now,  after  a  lapse  of  thirty  years,  though  its  territory- 
has  been  abridged  by  the  formation  of  new  confer- 
ences and  the  establishment  of  similar  institutions, 


1824.] 


THE   CHURCH   IN  CANADA. 


311 


yet  its  success  has  been  unabated.  It  reflects  honour 
upon  those  who  founded  and  have  sustained  it,  and 
hundreds  if  not  thousands  cherish  its  memory  with 
the  warmest  affection. 

This  conference  having  closed  its  session,  the  two 
bishops  started  for  the  Canada  Conference,  which  was 
to  meet  at  Hallowell,  Upper  Canada,  on  the  24:th  of 
August.  For  the  sake  of  encompassing  as  much  of 
the  work  and  visiting  as  many  of  the  societies  as  pos- 
sible, they  separated,  Bishop  George  going  around  the 
lower  end  of  Lake  Ontario  and  Bishop  Hedding 
going  around  the  upper  end  of  it ;  each  visiting  the 
Churches  in  their  route,  and  preaching  as  often  as 
circumstances  would  allow. 

The  preachers  and  people  in  Upper  Canada  up  to 
the  last  General  Conference  had  constituted  a  part  of 
the  Genesee  Conference.  This  relation  had  proved 
unsatisfactory  to  both  preachers  and  people.  They 
laboured  under  many  disabilities  on  account  of  their 
ecclesiastical  connexion  with  the  United  States.  The 
people  regarded  their  movements  with  suspicion,  and 
the  civil  powers  were  desirous  of  discouraging 
such  connexions.  Under  these  circumstances,  they 
petitioned  the  General  Conference  to  set  them  off 
as  an  independent  Church,  with  the  privilege  of 
electing  their  own  bishops  and  regulating  their  own 
affairs.  This  the  General  Conference  could  not 
do,  but  erected  them  into  a  distinct  conference, 
bounded  by  the  boundary  lines  of  Upper  Canada,  and 
to  be  under  the  general  superintendence  of  the  Meth- 


312  LIVE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

odist  Episcopal  Clmrch.  The  General  Conference 
also  addressed  a  circular  to  the  preachers  and  mem- 
bers in  Upper  Canada,  expressive  of  its  interest  in 
their  prosperity,  and  urging  the  importance  of  main- 
taining union  among  themselves.  With  this  decision, 
many  of  the  people  and  preachers  were  dissatisfied. 
Prominent  among  the  dissentients  were  the  local 
preachers.  Tliey  sent  circulars  into  every  part  of 
the  province,  and  before  the  time  for  the  session  of  the 
Canada  Conference  arrived,  they  held  a  general  con- 
vention, organized  an  independent  Church,  and  sent 
forth  a  declaration  of  their  rights,  grievances,  and 
newly-proposed  mode  of  operations  among  the  peo- 
ple. This  had  created  a  great  excitement  among  the 
Methodists  all  over  the  province,  distracting  and 
dividing  societies,  and  sometimes  even  members  of 
the  same  family.  The  intelligence  of  this  unhappy 
state  of  afi'airs  in  Canada  reached  Bishops  George 
and  Hedding  while  at  the  Genesee  Conference. 

The  route  of  travel  they  had  proposed  enabled 
Bishop  George  to  enter  Canada  near  the  lower  end  of 
the  province,  and  thus  he  could  range  through  the 
societies  in  that  section  and  do  what  he  could  to  cor- 
rect misrepresentations,  and  to  allay  the  excitement 
among  both  preachers  and  people.  Bishop  Hedding 
was  to  do  the  same  in  the  upper  section  of  the  con- 
ference ;  and  both  agreed  that  it  would  be  best  to 
invite  all  the  local  preachers  they  could  to  meet  the 
conference,  in  hope  of  efi'ecting  a  general  reconcilia- 
tion of  parties.    Bishop  Hedding  was  accompanied 


1824.]  EFFORTS   AT   RECONCILIATION.  313 

by  Eev.  Xathan  Bangs,  then  principal  book-agent 
in  ]^ew-Tork.  Dr.  Bangs,  when  first  received  into 
the  travelling  ministry  in  1802,  bad  been  sent  as  a 
missionary  into  Upper  Canada,  and  bad  laboured 
tbere  five  or  six  years  with  great  efficiency  and  suc- 
cess. Many  of  the  societies  had  been  formed  by  him, 
and  many  of  the  prominent  Methodists,  both  mem- 
bers and  ministers,  had  been  converted  to  God 
through  his  instrumentality.  He  therefore  knew  the 
people,  and  they  knew  him ;  and  to  Bishop  Hedding 
he  proved  a  most  timely  and  efficient  assistant  in 
his  delicate  and  arduous  work. 

On  both  routes  the  bishops  found  they  had  an  un- 
pleasant and,  in  some  instances,  a  painful  work  on  their 
hands.  The  people  had  been  thoroughly  prejudiced 
against  them.  Some,  however,  treated  them  kindly ; 
but  others  treated  them  with  contempt  and  even 
insult.  At  Toronto,  such  was  the  state  of  afi'aii's  that 
Bishop  Hedding  deemed  it  advisable  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  society.  He  found  them,  however,  per- 
fectly impracticable :  his  explanations  of  the  measures 
proposed  for  the  good  of  the  work  in  Canada,  and  his 
earnest  warnings  against  the  divisions  and  conten- 
tions that  were  creeping  in  among  them,  distracting 
their  peace,  enfeebling  their  moral  power,  and  tend- 
ing to  the  ruin  of  the  souls  of  men,  were  attentively 
listened  to  by  many,  and  some  seemed  to  be  deeply 
affected ;  but  the  leaders  in  the  seditious  movement 
were  unmoved,  and  one  of  the  most  prominent 
among  them  took  the  lead  in  opposition.    Ho  plainly 


314 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1824. 


told  Bishop  Hedding,  "We  don't  want  jou  here; 
we  don't  want  any  Yankee  bishops;  we  can  take  care 
of  om^selves."  Such  was  the  spirit  which  thej  en- 
countered in  many  portions  of  the  work.  It  must 
have  been  exceedingly  painful  to  Dr.  Bangs,  who 
had  toiled  and  suffered  so  much  to  carry  the  glad 
news  of  salvation  among  them,  when  they  were  dwell- 
ing in  log-huts  and  were  in  poverty  and  want. 

This  journey  was  not  only  attended  with  trials  of 
mind,  but  also  bodily  hardships.  The  bishops  often 
found  it  difficult,  in  their  journey  through  the  new  set- 
tlements, to  procm-e  suitable  food  for  themselves  and 
their  horses ;  and  still  more  difficult  to  obtain  comfort- 
able lodgings.  One  day  they  had  been  unable  to 
procure  anything  to  eat.  Jaded  and  hungry,  they  at 
length  came  in  sight  of  a  log-cabin  with  a  tavern- 
sign  hanging  out.  Their  courage  revived,  and  they 
drove  up  to  the  door  and  asked  if  they  could  have 
entertainment.  The  landlord  looked  at  them  quizzi- 
cally, as  if  he  would  say,  "  What  hind  of  entertain- 
ment do  you  want?"  They  inquired,  "  Can  we  have 
hay  for  our  hoi*ses?"  The  laconic  reply  was,  "^^o, 
have  none."  "  Oats  ?"  say  they.  "  Ko,  have  none," 
was  the  reply.  "  Pasture  ?"  "  l^o,  have  none." 
"  Well,  can  you  furnish  us  anything  to  eat  ?"  "  isTo," 
replied  the  landlord ;  "  have  nothing  to  eat  in  the 
house."  "What  have  you  then  ?"  they  inquired.  "  O, 
plenty  of  whisky."  Satisfied  with  their  colloquy, 
the  hungry  and  weary  travellers  resumed  their  jour- 
ney, and  at  length  foimd  a  hut  where  they  could 


1824.]  ADJUSTMENT   OF    DIFFICULTIES.  315 


obtain  hay  for  their  horses  and  food  and  rest  for 
themselves. 

Bishop  Hedding  and  his  colleague  met  at  Hal- 
lowell,  Upper  Canada.  At  their  instance,  a  large 
number  of  local  preachers,  and,  indeed,  many  of  the 
prominent  lay  members,  were  present  at  the  seat  of 
the  conference — ^particularly  those  who  had  been  fore- 
most in  the  disorderly  and  radical  movement.  The 
various  questions  of  rights,  privileges,  disabilities,  &c., 
were  discussed  with  frankness  and  candour,  for  the 
most  part,  in  the  conference.  After  a  long  series  of 
negotiation  between  the  parties,  those  who  had  com- 
menced their  revolutionizing  movement  agreed  to  re- 
tract what  they  had  done  ;  and  all  agreed  to  preserve 
the  peace  and  integrity  of  the  Chui'ch  till  the  next 
General  Conference.  Bishops  George  and  Hedding, 
and  Dr.  Bangs,  on  their  part,  agreed  to  use  their  in- 
fluence with  the  next  General  Conference  to  have  the 
Methodists  in  Upper  Canada  set  off  into  an  indepen- 
dent Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  if  it  could  be 
effected  consistently  with  the  principles  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  the  government  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Thus  they  succeeded  with  great  effort  in 
calming  the  agitation,  and  in  healing  the  divisions; 
and  the  Church  in  that  section  had  comparative  peace 
for  the  ensuing  four  years. 

The  leader  in  this  movement  was  none  other  than 
the  bluff  old  Irishman  who  had  been  Mr.  Hedding's 
colleague  on  the  Fletcher  Circuit,  in  Vermont,  twenty- 
two  years  before.  Crooked  and  quaint  notions  had  pos- 

14 


316 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 


sessed  him,  and  he  had  imfortunately  become  som*ed 
toward  the  Church.  Of  com*se  he  could  not  be  satis- 
fied with  any  peaceable  adjustment  of  the  difficulty. 
The  next  year  he  took  a  superannuated  relation,  and 
two  years  later  withdrew  from  the  Church.  After- 
ward he  attempted  to  organize  a  distinct  Church. 
By  way  of  derision,  his  folio wei-s  were  called  "  Ryan- 
ites and  after  a  sickly  existence  of  a  few  years  the 
societies  he  organized  became  extinct.  Poor,  mis- 
taken man !  How  lamentable  to  see  a  man,  after 
such  long  and  generally  useful  seryice,  and  in  his 
old  age,  becoming  the  yictim  of  Satan's  devices,  and 
thus  maiTing  his  own  peace  of  mind,  and  bringing 
injury  to  the  cause  of  God!  An  old  Methodist 
preacher,  imbittered  in  his  feelings,  and  soured  to- 
ward the  Church,  is  a  sad  spectacle.  We  thank 
God  it  is  a  spectacle  so  rarely  witnessed. 

This  great  question  disposed  of,  the  ordinary 
business  of  the  conference  proceeded  with  harmony 
and  despatch.  The  best  feelings  existed :  six  preach- 
ei-3  were  admitted  on  trial;  three  were  ordained 
deacons,  and  fiye  elders.  The  total  membership  of 
the  conference  was  six  thousand  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  and  the  number  of  travelling  preachei*s  thirty- 
six. 

This  is  the  last  conference  included  in  the  Minutes 
for  the  present  year.  The  results  of  the  year  gave 
an  increase  of  fifteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
eighty-three  members  in  the  whole  Church,  making 
a  grand  total  of  thi-ee  hundred  and  twenty-eight 


1824.] 


SICKNESS. 


317 


thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-three.  The  whole 
number  of  travelling  preachers  was  twelve  hundred 
and  seventy-two,  showing  an  increase  of  only  forty- 
six. 

Bishop  Hedding  was  very  much  exhausted  by  the 
labours  and  anxieties  to  which  he  had  been  subject  in 
Canada,  and  at  the  close  of  the  conference  was  taken 
down  with  the  bilious  remittent  fever.  This,  thought 
he,  was  a  hard  induction  into  the  episcopal  office, — 
anxiety  that  had  almost  deprived  him  of  sleep  for 
more  than  a  month ;  travel,  exposure,  and  privation, 
that  had  completely  exhausted  his  physical  energies; 
and  now,  to  complete  the  series  of  ti-ials,  he  was  taken 
down  with  a  severe  and  dangerous  disease,  not  only 
far  from  home,  but  in  a  place  where  few  comforts 
could  be  afforded  to  a  sick  man,  and  where  medical 
assistance  was  uncertain  and  unrehable.  Findino^ 
that  it  would  be  inconvenient  for  the  family  where  he 
had  been  entertained  for  him  to  remain  with  them,  he 
determined,  sick  as  he  was,  upon  a  removal.  One  of 
the  preachers  took  charge  of  him,  got  him  on  board  of  a 
steamboat,  and  accompanied  him  to  Kingston.  Here 
he  found  a  home  with  a  family  by  the  name  of  Arm- 
strong, where  he  was  confined  over  six  weeks. 
"  This,"  says  he,  "  was  an  excellent  Christian  family ; 
their  hospitality  and  kindness  I  shall  have  cause  to 
remember  as  long  as  I  live." 

After  he  had  been  with  tliis  kind  family  for  so 
many  weeks,  a  brother  of  his,  living  -on  the  west  side 
of  Lake  Champlain,  hearing  of  his  sickness,  came  to 


318  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1824. 

see  liim,  and  if  possible  to  take  him  back  witb  him  to 
his  home.  The  bishop  says :  "I  had  but  partly  re- 
covered, but  was  able  to  sit  up  all  the  day.  I  sent 
for  my  physician  and  consulted  him  whether  it  would 
be  safe  for  me  to  start  on  the  jom-ney,  situated  as  I 
then  was.  He  said,  '  By  no  means ;  it  would  be  at 
the  risk  of  my  life.'  But  I  asked  him  for  my  bill,  and 
paid  it,  and  said,  'I  must  go,  and  trust  Providence  for 
the  consequences.'  My  brother  took  me  on  board  of  a 
steamboat  next  morning,  down  the  River  St.  Lawrence 
seventy  miles,  to  Ogdensburgh.  We  were  twenty- 
four  hom*s  making  the  passage.  From  Ogdensburgh 
he  carried  me  in  his  wagon,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles,  across  the  country  to  his  home.  It  was  a  hard 
journey,  through  mud  and  mire  frequently  covering 
the  hubs  of  the  wagon,  over  a  wilderness  and  rough 
country;  and  we  had  to  proceed  through  rain  and 
storm.  A  sad  way  of  operating  for  a  sick  man. 
But,  through  a  good  Providence,  instead  of  dying,  as 
the  doctor  thought  I  would,  I  continued  to  improve 
through  the  journey,  and  was  much  better  at  the  end 
of  it  than  when  I  left  Kingston." 

Here  he  met  his  wife,  from  whom  he  had  been 
absent  about  four  months.  After  remaining  with  his 
brother  a  few  weeks  he  crossed  Lake  Champlain  into 
Yermont,  and  visited  a  sister  residing  in  that  state. 
Here  an  accident  occm-red  to  Mrs.  Hedding,  from  be- 
ing thrown  out  of  a  sleigh,  which  confined  her  to  the 
house  for  two  months.  They  did  not  reach  Lynn  be- 
fore the  ensuing  March.    But  Mr.  Hedding  was  not 


1824.]  LABOUR  OF  TRAVELLING. 


319 


idle  in  tlie  mean  time ;  for  wherever  he  was  delayed 
he  visited  the  societies  for  several  miles  around,  and 
preached  to  them.  This  was  the  more  interesting  to 
him  as  it  was  chiefly  in  the  country  where  he  had 
first  commenced  his  labours  in  the  ministry,  a  quarter 
of  a  century  before.  A  number  of  the  older  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  remembered  him  when  on  his 
first  circuit ;  but  the  Church  since  that  time  had 
greatly  increased  in  numbers  and  influence,  and  the 
mass  of  them  had  been  gathered  into  it  since  he  had 
left  those  regions  for  other  fields  of  labour. 

We  can  hardly  appreciate  the  labour  and  fatigue 
of  travelling  in  those  days,  when,  even  on  the  great 
inland  thoroughfares,  it  was  to  be  performed  only  by 
the  slow  and  tiresome  progress  of  the  stage-line,  or 
by  private  conveyances.  Now,  we  can  whirl  away 
hundreds  of  miles  in  twenty-four  hours,  and,  such  are 
the  facilities  for  travel  and  the  accommodations  for 
rest,  scarcely  feel  wearied  by  the  transit.  But,  dur- 
ing this  spring.  Bishop  Hedding  speaks  of  one  journey 
of  only  fifty  miles,  which,  upon  bad  roads  and  in 
stormy  weather,  occupied  no  less  than  three  days. 
A  journey  from  Lynn  to  Philadelphia,  which  was  the 
seat  of  Bishop  Hedding's  next  conference,  ordinarily 
occupied  nearly  a  week. 

He  was  at  home  but  a  few  days  when  he  started 
for  Philadelphia,  visiting  the  societies,  as  far  as  he 
was  able,  along  the  route.  The  session  of  the  confer- 
ence was  to  commence  on  the  14th  of  April.  He 
reached  the  city  on  the  13th,  but  the  night  before 


320  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1825. 

had  been  taken  with  a  violent  attack  of  fever  and 
ague,  so  that  he  was  confined  to  his  room,  and  for  the 
most  part  to  his  bed,  till  after  the  session  of  the  con- 
ference closed.  This  was  a  great  mortification  as 
well  as  trial  to  him.  On  the  19th  he  found  a  little 
respite  from  the  severity  of  his  distress,  and  indited  a 
letter  to  his  wife.  After  giving  an  account  of  his  sick- 
ness, and  his  inabihty  to  meet  the  conference,  or  even 
to  see  many  of  his  brethren,  he  acknowledges  the 
kindness  of  the  family  whose  hospitality  and  care  he 
enjoyed,  and  then  despondingly  adds:  "I  see  but 
little  pros]3ect  of  my  being  able  to  perform  the  jour- 
neys my  station  requires,  my  health  is  so  broken. 
I  have  been  sick  a  week,  so  as  to  be  unable  to  write 
till  to-day.  I  was  attacked  about  twenty  miles  from 
this  place,  on  my  way  here,  much  as  I  was  last  year 
in  Canada.  I  feel  very  forcibly  the  need  of  being 
prepared  for  death,  for  I  am  conscious  these  repeated 
strokes,  if  continued,  must  soon  bring  me  to  the  grave. 
Tliough  I  am  hardly  able  to  hold  my  pen,  my  soul  is 
full  of  heavenly  peace." 

A  week  or  two  after  the  close  of  the  Philadelphia 
Conference,  his  health  was  so  far  recovered  that  he 
started  for  Troy,  where  he  rejoined  Bishop  George, 
and  the  two  presided  alternately  at  the  session  of  the 
New -York  Conference,  which  commenced  on  the  3d 
of  May.  From  thence  they  proceeded  by  difi'erent 
routes — so  as  to  visit  the  societies  as  extensively  as 
possible — to  East  Cambridge,  where  the  New-England 
Conference  commenced  its  session  on  the  8th  of  June. 


1825.] 


METHODISM   IN  MAINE. 


321 


This  conference  had  been  divided  by  the  preced- 
ing General  Conference ;  and  the  three  districts  in- 
cluded in  the  State  of  Maine,  with  nearly  seven 
thousand  members  and  forty-six  preachers,  had  been 
organized  into  the  Maine  Conference.  This  latter 
conference  held  its  session  at  Gardiner,  Maine,  com- 
mencing on  the  7th  of  July.  On  their  way  to  the 
Maine  Conference  they  preached  in  Portland,  and 
also  attended  a  camp-meeting  at  Gorham.  Of  the 
work  in  Maine  at  this  time  he  says :  "It  was  the 
most  laborious  field  of  labour  in  New-England.  We 
had  only  about  forty  preachers  to  supply  the  entire 
state,  embracing  generally  a  new  and  sparsely-settled 
territory,  and  having  larger  circuits,  on  an  average, 
than  any  other  part  of  the  eastern  work."  But  here, 
as  in  other  portions  of  the  work,  a  noble  band  of 
heroes  were  in  the  field,  who  counted  not  their  lives 
dear  unto  themselves  so  that  they  might  fulfil  the 
ministry  which  had  been  given  to  them  to  testify  of 
the  grace  of  God.  Among  them,  as  veterans,  stood 
Philip  Munger,  and  Eleazer  Wells,  and  Joshua  Hall, 
and  David  Kilburn ;  while  among  the  junior  preach- 
ers were  Heman  Nickerson,  Ezekiel  Robinson,  and 
others,  who  have  long  stood  as  pillars  in  the  work. 
Since  then,  the  work  has  continued  to  spread  and 
increase  in  the  state,  till  the  one  conference  has  be- 
come two,  the  forty-six  preachers  have  become  one 
hundred  and  ninety-two,  and  the  six  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  members,  twenty-one  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  seventy-three,  or  more  than 


322  LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1825. 


tliere  were  in  all  Xew-England  at  the  time  of  the 
division. 

Eeturning  from  Maine,  the  two  bishops  travelled  in 
company  as  far  as  Madison,  l^ew-York,  where  thej 
parted — ^Bishop  George  bound  for  the  Pittsburgh 
Conference,  and  Bishop  Hedding  for  the  Genesee. 
From  Albany  Bishop  Hedding  wrote  to  his  wife 
under  date  of  August  2,  1825  : — 

"  Through  the  goodness  of  Providence  I  have  been 
preserved  in  tolerable  health,  amid  fatigue,  and  heat, 
and  dust.  My  situation  in  life  is  an  occasion  of  many 
trials  of  mind  as  well  as  labours  of  body ;  but  our  good 
God  supporteth  me  with  great  peace,  and  glorious 
hopes  of  a  life  of  rest  and  peace  in  heaven.  Let  us 
keep  this  great  object  in  view,  and  prepare  to  live 
where  parting  and  sorrow  will  be  no  more." 

After  parting  from  Bishop  George,  Bishop  Hedding 
continued  his  journey  to  Lansing,  where  the  Genesee 
Conference  assembled  August  17.  This  was  a  vil- 
lage in  the  same  town  where  the  conference  met  the 
year  previous.  A  camp-meeting  was  held  near  by 
during  the  session  of  the  conference.  It  was  one  of 
the  largest  ever  held  in  the  county.  The  ordination 
services  were  performed  at  the  camp-meeting.  Some 
most  powerful  sermons  were  preached,  and  many 
were  converted.  It  had  been  a  year  of  unwonted 
success.  In  the  Ontario  district,  of  which  George 
Lane  had  been  presiding  elder,  the  net  increase  had 
been  about  one  thousand,  and  in  the  whole  confer- 
ence two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine. 


1825.]  SUMMATION   FOR   THE   TEAR.  323 

After  the  close  of  the  Genesee  Conference,  Bishop 
Hedding  crossed  Caynga  Lake,  visited  the  societies 
in  Geneva,  Canandaigna,  Buffalo,  and  several  other 
places.  From  Buffalo  he  crossed  into  Canada,  and 
met  the  Canada  Conference  on  the  14th  of  Septemher 
at  Fiftj  Mile  Creek,  in  Saltfleet  township.  The  con- 
dition of  the  work  in  Canada  he  found  much  better 
than  he  expected.  An  increase  of  seven  hundred  and 
twentj-five  was  realized:  the  preachers  and  people 
were  living  and  labouring  in  harmony,  generally 
contented  to  abide  by  the  stipulations  they  had 
entered  into  the  preceding  year. 

The  general  recapitulation  this  year  exhibited  an 
increase  of  nineteen  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy- 
two,  making  the  total  membership  three  hundred  and 
forty-eight  thousand  one  hundi*ed  and  ninety-five. 
The  number  of  itinerants  was  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  fourteen,  being  an  increase  of  forty-two. 

After  the  close  of  the  Canada  Conference,  Bishop 
Hedding,  wearied  and  worn  with  his  joumeyings  and 
labours,  took  the  most  direct  route  to  Albany,  and 
thence  crossed  over  the  country  to  Lynn,  where  he 
hoped  to  enjoy  a  little  rest.  Li  all  his  cares  and 
anxieties  he  found  the  Lord  ever  present  to  sustain 
and  comfort  him,  and  of  his  mercy  he  made  grateful 
acknowledgment.  He  had  been  remarkably  sustained 
by  the  grace  of  God,  and  rejoiced  exceedingly  in  wit- 
nessing the  growth  and  spread  of  Methodism  through- 
out the  land.  * 

Few  men  could  enjoy  with  a  higher  relish  the  little 
14* 


324:  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1826. 

amusing  incidents  of  travel  than  Bishop  Hedding. 
Speaking  of  his  jom-ney  home,  he  says:  "At  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.,  I  called  upon  a  located  preacher,  and 
told  him  I  was  a  Methodist  preacher.  He  asked  me 
if  I  was  a  travelling  preacher.  I  said, '  Yes.'  He  said, 
*  What  conference  V  I  said,  '  'Not  any  conference  in 
particular.'  He  said,  '  What  circuit  or  station  V  I 
said,  '  Xot  any  in  particular.'  He  asked,  '  Are  you  a 
presiding  elder  V  I  said,  '  No.^  Again,  he  said,. '  Are 
you  a  missionary  V  I  said,  '  Well,  I  travel  about  as 
missionaries  do;  but  I  am  not  called  a  missionary.' 
'  Well,  how  is  this.?'  said  the  man,  with  a  puzzled  and 
confused  expression  of  countenance ;  '  how  can  you 
be  a  travelling  preacher,  and  not  belong  to  any  con- 
ference, nor  to  any  circuit  or  station,  and  are  not  a 
presiding  elder  or  a  missionary?'  I  saw  that  I  was 
about  being  suspected  as  an  impostor,  and  said  to 
him,  '  I  am  one  of  those  they  call  bishops.'  Light 
flashed  upon  the  mind  of  my  proposed  host,  and  the 
whole  matter  was  explained.  I  scarcely  need  add, 
that  I  received  a  hearty  welcome  and  good  enter- 
tainment." 

The  winter  of  1825-6  was  spent  mainly  in  visiting 
the  Churches  in  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts, 
and  attending  to  such  other  duties  as  were  incident 
to  his  office.  Early  in  the  spring,  however,  he  left 
home  and  travelled  by  way  of  Kew-Tork  and  JSTew- 
Jersey  to  meet  the  other  bishops  at  Baltimore.  The 
object  of  their  meeting  was  to  carry  out  the  resolu- 
tion passed  by  the  General  Conference,  that,  in  1826, 


1826.] 


DELEGATE   TO  ENGLAND. 


325 


the  bishops  should  appoint  some  person  to  go  as  a 
delegate  to  the  British  Conference.  The  action  of 
this  meeting  of  the  bishops  was  such  as  to  throw 
some  light  on  what  were  then  the  views  of  Bishop 
Hedding  on  the  question  of  slavery  and  its  relations 
to  the  Church.  Bishops  M'Kendree,  George,  Soule, 
and  Hedding  were  present.  Bishop  Eoberts  was 
unable  to  attend.  When  they  came  to  nominate  a 
delegate,  Bishops  M'Kendree  and  Soule  nominated 
William  Capers,  of  South  Carolina,  and  Bishops 
George  and  Hedding  nominated  Wilbur  Fisk  for  that 
office.  The  appointment  of  Mr.  Capei*s  was  objected 
to  on  account  of  his  connexion  with  slavery.  It  was 
urged  that  the  views  of  Mr.  Wesley,  and  of  the  Wes- 
ley an  Conference  after  him,  on  the  subject  of  slavery, 
being  well  known,  it  would  not  be  respectful  to  them  to 
appoint  a  slaveholder  as  a  delegate ;  and  further,  that 
such  a  man  would  be  in  danger  of  not  being  favom-- 
ably  received,  and,  at  all  events,  would  be  greatly 
embarrassed  in  his  mission  on  account  of  his  con- 
nexion with  slavery.  "The  two  bishops,"  says  Mr. 
Hedding,  "who  had  nominated  Kev.  W.  Capers, 
refused  to  yield  their  nomination,  or  to  concur  in 
ours,  alleging  that  slaveholding  should  not  be  a  bar 
to  any  office  in  the  appointment  of  the  Church.  In 
this  state  of  things,  neither  side  being  wilHng  to  yield j 
and  being  equally  dividec^in  om*  choice,  we  agreed 
to  adjourn  till  the  following  year,  when  the  absent 
bishop  could  meet  with  us.  The  next  year  we  all 
met,  and  it  was  found  that  those  of  us  who  had  been 


326  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1826. 


together  the  year  before  remained  of  the  same  mind. 
The  other  bishop  was  unwilling  to  take  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  casting  vote,  and  after  two  days'  delay, 
decided  that  we  had  not  authority  to  make  the  ap- 
pointment in  1827,  since  the  General  Conference 
voted  it  should  be  done  in  1826 ;  and  we  adjourned 
without  sending  a  delegate."  From  the  above  facts, 
the  intelligent  reader  will  infer  that  the  aggressive 
movements  of  slavery,  which  finally  led  to  the  dis- 
ruption of  the  Church,  were  not  wholly  without  epis- 
copal sanction  at  a  very  early  date. 

After  this  meeting,  in  company  with  Bishop  George, 
Bishop  Hedding  attended  the  Philadelphia  and  Xew- 
York  Conferences.  At  the  close  of  the  Xew-York 
Conference  they  parted.  Bishop  George  leaving  for 
the  eastern  conferences,  and  Bishop  Hedding  for  the 
western. 

The  Genesee  Conference  met  June  15th  at  Pal- 
myra, and  Bishop  Hedding  was  present  and  presided. 
From  this  place,  under  date  of  June  15th,  he  ^vrote 
to  Mrs.  Hedding  as  follows:  "My  manner  of  life  is 
exceedingly  trying.  My  only  support  is  in  the  con- 
solations of  religion,  and  the  hope  that  I  may  be  the 
means  of  some  little  good  to  mankind.  Whatever 
may  befall  us  in  this  state  of  pilgrimage,  let  us  try  to 
make  a  sure  preparation  for  a  better  life.  This,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  I  am  de||rmined  to  do."  After  the 
conference,  he  spent  some  weeks  with  one  of  the 
presiding  elders  in  attending  camp-meetings  in  that 
region,  and  then  went  to  Washington,  Penn.,  where 


1826.]  THE   PITTSBURGH    CONFERENCE.  327 

he  met  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  on  the  22d  of 
August.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  Pittsburgh 
Conference,  which  was  one  of  the  new  conferences 
organized  in  1824.  It  comprised  eighty-two  travel- 
ling preachers,  and  twenty  thousand  four  hundred 
and  thirty-two  members,  being  an  increase  of  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy  for  the  year. 
Some  of  the  choice  spirits  in  the  itinerant  ranks 
were  to  be  found  in  this  body :  such  were  Thornton 
Fleming,  Charles  Cooke,  Alfred  Brunson,  Charles 
Elliott,  "William  Stevens,  Ira  Eddy,  Hiram  Kinsley, 
and  others  of  whom  we  have  less  knowledge.  Here, 
also,  was  Asa  Shinn,  a  talented,  zealous,  laborious,  but 
radical  man,  and  a  great  disturber  of  the  peace  and 
quiet  of  the  Church.  Here,  too,  was  the  great  orator 
of  the  West,  H.  B.  Bascom,  who  had  but  recently  * 
returned  from  the  East,  where  he  had  filled  the  minds 
of  the  people  with  astonishment  at  the  transcendent 
displays  of  his  eloquence.  He  was  now  in  the  full 
flood-tide  of  popularity;  and  having  fully  embarked 
in  the  radical  movement  with  Mr.  Shinn,  the  two,  in 
connexion  with  Pev.  George  Brown,  and  some  few 
others,  had  produced  no  little  excitement  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference.  Mr.  Shinn  had 
been  presiding  elder  of  the  Pittsburgh  District,  Mr. 
Brown  presiding  elder  of  the  Monongahela  District, 
Mr.  Bascom  "  conference  missionary."  The  three 
had,  therefore,  been  favourably  situated  for  the 
propagation  of  their  radical  views  in  relation  to  the 
economy  of  the  Church;  and  when  the  conference 


328  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1826. 

assembled,  it  was  openly  claimed  that  the  radicals 
were  in  the  ascendency.  The  radicals,  too,  had 
adroitly  drawn  in  Bishop  Hedding,  by  representing 
that  he  was  in  favour  of  their  views,  not  only  on  the 
question  of  electing  presiding  eldei's,  but  also  on  the 
question  of  lay  delegation  in  the  Annual  and  General 
Conferences,  and  the  other  radical  measm*es  they 
proposed.  The  wisest  and  best  men  in  the  confer- 
ence were  perplexed  and  alarmed.  The  state  of 
affairs  was  laid  open  to  the  bishop  at  an  early  date 
in  the  conference  by  one  of  the  presiding  elders  yet 
living,  and  also  the  representations  that  had  been 
made  concerning  his  views.  The  bishop  was  sorely 
afflicted  at  the  state  of  affairs,  and  was  indignant  at 
the  unwarrantable  statements  that  had  been  made 
concerning  himself.  His  firmness,  decision,  and 
ability,  however,  were  equal  to  the  task  before  him. 
It  was  not  long  before  occasion  was  given  to  call 
him  out  on  the  subject.  Then,  in  a  most  masterly 
speech  to  the  conference,  he  exposed  the  unfounded 
assumptions  of  the  radicals,  the  evils  that  would 
inevitably  result  to  the  Church  should  they  succeed, 
and  especially  the  wickedness  and  baseness  of  the 
report  that  had  been  fabricated  and  circulated,  that 
he  in  any  measure  countenanced  the  course  of  those 
men  whose  action  would  rend  and  destroy  the  Church. 
It  was  a  masterly  vindication  of  the  Church,  and  also 
of  himself.  It  carried  consternation  into  the  hearts 
of  the  radical  leaders.  They  ventured  no  reply,  but 
in  silence  saw  the  downfal  of  their  hopes. 


1826.'1      DISCOMFITURE    OF   THE   RADICALS.  329 

But  the  bishop  did  not  stop  here.  He  carried  the 
matter  into  the  cabinet,  and  told  the  presiding  elders 
plainly  that  he  could  appoint  no  man  to  that  office 
who  was  not  sound  in  his  views  of  Chm-ch  polity,  and 
true  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Church.  "  This,"  said  he, 
"  is  not  a  personal  matter  with  me ;  I  have  no  per- 
sonal interests  to  look  after  in  the  matter,  no  friends 
to  favour,  and  no  enemies  to  punish;  but  to  this 
course  I  am  shut  up  by  my  riiost  solemn  official  duty 
to  the  Church."  He  therefore  gave  them  to  under- 
stand, that  the  two  elders  who  were  known  to  be 
leaders  in  the  radical  movement  could  not  expect  to 
be  returned  to  their  districts.  Accordingly  we  find 
Thornton  Fleming  and  William  Stevens  returned  to 
the  two  districts  that  had  been  occupied  by  Shinn 
and  Brown.  Mr.  Bascom  was  this  year  stationed  in 
Uniontown,  Pa.  An  attempt  was  made  to  establish 
the  Madison  College  in  this  place  during  the  succeed- 
ing winter,  and  Mr.  Bascom  was  subsequently  elected 
president  of  it,  but  retained  his  post  only  about  two 
years.  He  then  accepted  an  agency  for  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society,  and  was  soon  after  trans- 
ferred to  the  Kentucky  Conference,  which  conference 
he  represented  in  the  General  Conference  of  1832. 
In  1830,  Asa  Shinn  and  George  Brown  are  both 
returned  as  having  withdrawn  from  the  connexion. 
The  decided  and  judicious  course  pm-sued  by  Bishop 
Hedding  completely  discomfitted  the  leaders  in  the 
radical  movement  and  thwarted  their  designs.  It 
was  an  opportune  effort.    Many  who  were  on  the 


330  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1826. 

very  edge  of  the  precipice  were  enabled  to  see 
through  the  designs  of  the  movement  and  to  compre- 
hend the  result,  and  they  started  back  with  alarm. 
After  the  bishop  had  taken  his  position  and  expressed 
his  views,  there  was  no  disposition  to  bring  the  mat- 
ter to  a  test  before  the  conference,  much  as  the 
radical  party  had  boasted  previously  of  a  certain  and 
large  ascendency.  Such  a  discomfiture,  however, 
could  not  but  produce  intense  feeling  among  them. 
This  feeling  they  vented  in  the  most  malignant 
attacks  over  anonymous  signatures  in-  the  "Mutual 
Rights,"  published  in  Baltimore. 

Under  the  date  of  September  1st,  Bishop  Hedding 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Hedding  as  follows:  "The  Pittsburgh 
Conference  closed  its  session  on  the  29th  ult.  After 
I  wrote  to  you  last  I  came  to  the  town  of  Erie,  Pa., 
near  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie ;  thence  on  my  way  to 
Pittsburgh  sixty  miles ;  then  turned  west  to  a  camp- 
meeting,  near  the  line  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio.  There  we  had  a  great  time;  about  one  hun- 
dred tents  and  about  eight  thousand  people  were  on 
the  ground.  Fifty  or  sixty  professed  to  be  converted. 
Rev.  Shadrach  Bostwick  was  there;  it  was  within 
about  twenty-five  miles  of  the  place  where  he  lives. 
He  preaches  as  a  local  preacher,  and  practises  as  a 
physician  to  a  great  extent.  He  looks  old  as  well  as 
I,  and  has  lately  buried  his  wife. 

"From  that  camp-meeting  I  bore  west  some  dis- 
tance into  the  State  of  Ohio,  then  south,  then  east 
into  Pennsylvania,  and  struck  the  Ohio  River  at  the 


1826.] 


JOUKNEY  WEST. 


331 


mouth  of  the  Big  Beaver,  then  up  the  Ohio  thirty 
miles  to  Pittsburgh,  thence  southwest  twenty-six 
miles  to  Washington,  thence  northwest  thirty  miles 
to  this  place.  Here  I  am  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Ohio  Eiver,  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
nearly  west  of  Philadelphia,  and  have  upwards  of 
two  hundred  miles  yet  to  go  southwest  to  get  to  the 
Ohio  Conference.  The  country  I  have  travelled  for 
fifty  miles  before  I  arrived  at  Pittsburgh,  and  from, 
that  to  this,  and  all  about  here,  is  as  hilly  as  New- 
England,  but  not  so  rocky;  generally  good  land  to 
the  tops  of  the  hills,  good  water,  and  healthy.  I  have 
got  along  thus  far  without  a  horse ;  and,  if  I  can  find 
means  of  conveyance,  I  shall  go  from  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence to  Sandusky,  take  the  steamboat  through  Lake 
Erie  to  Bufialo,  and  thence  through  the  canal  to  Albany. 

"I  am  told  that  part  of  the  country  I  have  to  go 
through  to  get  to  the  Ohio  Conference  is  sickly ;  but 
I  believe  the  same  God  rules  there  as  at  Lynn,  or 
here,  and  that  he  will  keep  me  in  health  as  long  as 
he  sees  best  I  should  have  it,  and  that  he  will  keep 
me  in  life  as  long  as  he  sees  my  life  will  be  of  any 
use  to  me  or  any  one  else.  I  feel  safe  in  his  hands, 
in  one  country  as  in  another;  I  feel  that  my  great 
business  is  to  get  ready  to  go;  for  this  I  am  daijy 
striving  and  praying,  and  I  know  my  God  is  the  only 
proper  judge  when  is  the  best  time  and  where  the 
best  place  to  call  me  hence.  The  time  seems  long  to 
be  from  home ;  but  why  should  a  living  man  com- 
plain?" 


332 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1826. 


The  Ohio  Conference  assembled  at  Hillsborough 
on  the  4th  of  October.  This  conference  then  num- 
bered thirty  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-three 
members  and  ninety  travelling  preachers.  Among 
the  ministers  received  on  ti*ial  that  year  were  George 
W.  "Walker  and  Adam  Poe ;  and  among  the  ordained 
deacons  was  Augustus  Eddy.  Among  those  in  the 
conference  who  were  then,  or  have  since  become 
well  known  to  the  Church,  were  Martin  Ruter,  Russel 
Bigelow,  W.  H.  Raper,  John  Sale,  James  Quinn, 
James  B.  Finley,  John  F.  Wright,  David  and  Jacob 
Young,  Leroy  Swormstedt,  J.  P.  Durbin,  J.  H. 
Power,  and  others.  Twenty-eight  years  later  the 
same  territory  comprehended  not  less  than  four  an- 
nual conferences,  six  hundred  and  seventy  travelling 
preachers,  and  one  hundred  and  nine  thousand  six 
hundred  and  six  members,  exclusive  of  a  portion 
that  had  been  dismembered  from  the  Church  by  the 
Southern  organization.  In  this  first  visit  to  the  Ohio 
Conference,  Bishop  Hedding  made  a  most  favourable 
impression,  both  as  to  his  ability  as  a  presiding  officer 
and  a  preacher,  and  as  to  his  sincerity  and  integrity 
of  character. 

It  was  not  till  in  the  month  of  December  that  he 
reached  Lynn,  having  been  absent  from  home  about 
nine  months.  He  was  much  worn  by  the  fatigues 
of  travel  and  the  labour  and  care  of  his  official  du- 
ties, and  greatly  needed  the  short  respite  now  allowed 
him  to  recruit  his  exhausted  energies. 

The  year  had  been  one  of  general  though  not 


18^7.1 


LETTER   TO    HIS  WIFE. 


333 


remarkable  prosperity  in  the  Church.  The  number 
of  members  reported  was  three  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  eight  hundred,  increase  twelve  thousand 
six  hundred  and  one;  number  of  preachers  one 
thousand  fom-  hundred  and  six,  increase  ninety-two. 

Early  in  March,  1827,  Mr.  Hedding  left  his  home 
for  Baltimore,  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  bishops, 
where,  among  other  business,  another  abortive  at- 
tempt was  made  to  appoint  a  delegate  to  the  British 
Wesleyan  Conference. 

On  his  way  to  Baltimore,  under  date  of  March  24, 
he  wrote  to  his  wife  from  Philadelphia: — "I  arrived 
in  this  city  yesterday  in  tolerable  health.  My  old 
afflictions  follow  me,  as  I  expect  they  will  do  till  the 
grave  conceals  me  from  them ;  but  I  have  got  along 
as  well  as  I  expected.  I  met  with  a  cordial  reception 
in  New-London,  and  spent  about  a  week  there.  I 
had  no  idea  that  the  people  of  I^'ew-London  would 
be  so  glad  to  see  one  who  was  not  worth  seeing. 
Many  of  them  expressed  a  great  deal  of  sorrow  that 
you  did  not  come.  At  ISTew-York  and  Brooklyn  I 
had  a  pleasant  visit.  The  work  of  the  Lord  in  those 
places  is  in  a  state  of  prosperity.  After  coming  from 
New-York,  I  visited  New-Brunswick,  Trenton,  and 
Burlington,  New-Jersey.  I  am  continually  humbled 
and  often  pained  by  the  respect  and  attention  the 
people  show  me  from  place  to  place :  humbled,  be- 
cause I  know  myself  to  be  so  unworthy ;  sometimes 
pained,  because  I  think  it  cannot  be  the  man  but  the 
office  they  respect.    I  always  enjoyed  the  love  of  the 


334 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1827. 


poor,  and  the  fellowship  of  the  saints ;  but  when  the 
great,  the  rich,  the  learned,  the  wise,  the  aged  come 
round  me,  and  talk  and  act  as  though  they  think  I 
am  somebody,  I  feel  like  creeping  away  somewhere 
out  of  sight.  But,  if  there  were  any  pleasure  in  these 
things,  I  have  enough  of  the  opposite — enough  of 
clamour,  enough  of  hard  questions  to  settle — to  try 
me  to  the  last  drop  of  my  patience,  and  to  make  me 
feel  as  though  I  am  nothing." 

After  this  meeting  in  Baltimore,  Bishops  George 
and  Hedding  took  their  course  across  the  Chesapeake 
Bay,  and  through  the  eastern  part  of  Maryland,  and 
proceeded  to  Smyrna,  Del.,  where  the  Philadelphia 
Conference  held  its  session  April  12th.  When  this 
conference  was  over,  they  went  in  company  to  Troy, 
I^".  Y.,  and  held  the  I^ew-York  Conference  May  9th. 

In  the  work  generally,  it  was  found  that  the  preach- 
ers for  the  most  part  made  but  little  disturbance  about 
their  appointments,  and,  when  they  were  made,  re- 
ceived them  like  men  of  God.  A  few  exceptions, 
however,  were  met  with  in  almost  every  conference. 
Certain  men  seemed  vastly  more  solicitous  about 
where  they  were  to  go  than  how  they  should  serve 
and  benefit  the  people  where  they  might  be  ap- 
pointed. With  this  class  of  men  the  bishops  often 
had  great  difficulty.  They  annoyed  them  with  pri- 
vate applications  and  interviews,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  they  would  petition  to  be  sent  to  an  appoint- 
ment from  which  the  bishop  had  advice  that  the 
people  would  not  receive  them  at  all;  and  then, 


1827.] 


STATIONING  PREACHERS. 


335 


when  tliey  failed  in  getting  the  appointment  they 
desired,  they  would  charge  the  whole  blame  upon 
the  bishop,  who  had  to  stand  between  them  and  the 
people.  Some,  in  their  over-estimate  of  themselves, 
pleaded  that  their  gifts  had  not  been  duly  appre- 
ciated, or  that  they  had  been  shut  np  in  narrow 
places  where  they  had  not  room  for  the  exercise 
of  them.  Others,  having  located  their  families  on 
a  farm  or  in  some  village,  wonld  seek  an  appoint- 
ment near  by,  and  demand  it  even  to  the  detriment 
of  the  work.  Some,  having  got  into  debt,  wanted 
an  appointment  where  large  salaries  were  paid  to  the 
preacher,  in  order  that  they  might  be  able  to  pay 
their  debts — forgetting  that,  as  a  general  thing,  the 
expense  of  living  increases  in  a  higher  ratio  than  the 
salaries  in  the  more  popular  places.  These  are  some 
of  the  things  that  have  ever  embarrassed  the  super- 
intendents, and  clogged  the  wheels  of  our  itinerancy. 
We  can,  perhaps,  hardly  wonder  that  they  exist. 
Nay,  considering  all  things,  is  it  not  a  wonder  that 
for  the  spac^  of  three-quarters  of  a  century  the  work 
has  been  so  Httle  embarrassed  by  them ;  and  that  the 
great  body  of  our  preachers,  believing  in  the  provi- 
dential arrangement  of  our  itinerant  economy,  have 
gone  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness  to  their  appointed 
fields  of  labour? 

At  this  session  of  the  New- York  Conference  one 
of  the  preachers,  who  was  wanted  for  Vermont,  came 
to  the  bishops  and  desired  to  be  appointed  elsewhere, 
alleging  that  it  would  be  inconvenient  for  his  family, 


336  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1827. 

and  tliat  his  wife  was  tlien  with  her  parents  on  a  cir- 
cnit  quite  down  toward  New-York.  He  therefore 
asked  to  be  appointed  near  to  her.  Desiring,  as 
much  as  possible,  to  accommodate  him,  the  bishops 
sent  him  to  a  circuit  in  that  region.  It  appeared 
subsequently  that  he  wanted  to  go  to  the  circuit 
where  his  wife  was.  After  the  conference  had  ad- 
journed and  the  bishops  had  retired  to  their  lodgings, 
the  preacher  came  stamping  and  frowning  into  their 
room,  and  said,  "  I  thought  you  were  to  give  me  an 
appointment  to  accommodate  me  near  where  my 
wife  is."  Bishop  George  replied,  "We  could  not 
appoint  you  to  the  circuit  where  your  wife  is,  but  we 
appointed  you  as  near  as  we  could."  The  preacher 
said,  "You  have  not  accommodated  me  at  all;  I 
cannot  go  to  the  circuit."  Bishop  George  then  said, 
"Go  home,  then,  and  take  care  of  your  wife,  and 
stay  with  her."  The  preacher  replied,  "And  what 
will  you  do  with  the  circuit  then?"  Bishop  George 
answered,  "Never  mind  the  circuit;  we'll  take  care 
of  that ;  you  take  care  of  yourself,  and  go  home  and 
take  care  of  your  wife."  The  preacher  turned  on  his 
heel,  and,  grumbling,  went  away.  But,  on  sober 
reflection,  he  concluded  to  go  to  his  cu'cuit,  and  noti- 
fied the  bishops  to  that  effect. 

Bishop  Hedding  possessed  a  naturally  tender  and 
sympathizing  heart,  and  it  was  often  the  cause  of  the 
greatest  grief  to  him,  when,  after  having  done  all 
that  the  demands  of  the  work  would  allow,  to  gratify 
preachers  in  any  special  request,  they  would  attribute 


1827.]      AN   ATTACK   OF   FEVER   AND   AGUE.  337 

his  action  to  indifference,  or  perhaps  hostility  to  them, 
because  he  was  unable  to  do  just  as  they  desired. 
On  this  point  the  bishop  had  in  his  possession  sundry 
letters,  the  rehearsal  of  which  would  make  the  ears 
of  certain  living  men  tingle,  and  prove  a  warning  to 
younger  brethren.  But  it  is  best  they  should  slum- 
ber, and  that  the  kind  v  eil  of  Christian  charity  should 
be  thrown  over  the  entire  subject.  We  would  say, 
however,  with  all  the  earnestness  of  spirit  we  possess, 
to  our  junior  brethren, — tlie  hest possible  way  to  secure 
hetter  ap^oint/rnents  is  to  make  yourself  more  than 
equal  to  those  you  now  have.  Tlie  man  that  will  do 
this  will  have  no  occasion  for  anxiety  about  good 
appointments. 

When  the  New- York  Conference  had  closed.  Bish- 
op Hedding  proceeded  east,  journeying  through  the 
western  part  of  Yermont,  to  attend  the  New-England 
Conference,  which  was  to  meet  at  Lisbon,  N.  H., 
June  6.  When  he  arrived  at  Middlebury,  he  awoke  in 
the  night  with  a  terrible  attack  of  the  fever  and  ague. 
Tliis  disease  followed  him  for  about  two  months ;  the 
fits  coming  on  regularly  once  in  about  two  days,  and 
lasting  about  twenty  hours,  confining  him  to  his  bed 
in  great  suffering  at  each  attack.  He  was  unable 
to  continue  his  journey  by  public  conveyance,  but 
procured  the  aid  of  friends,  who  assisted  him  on  his 
way,  between  the  attacks,  until  he  arrived  at  the  seat 
of  the  conference.  When  this  conference  commenced 
its  session,  he  was  wholly  unable  to  attend  its  sittings; 
and,  indeed,  had  become  so  weak  that,  with  great 


338  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1827. 


difficulty,  he  performed  the  ordination  services  on 
the  Sabbath. 

From  Lisbon  he  was  conveyed  by  Kev.  D.  Kilburn 
in  his  private  carriage  to  Portland,  the  seat  of  the 
Maine  Conference.  The  journey  was  performed  with 
great  suffering.  They  had  about  three  hundred  miles 
to  travel,  and  were  obliged  to  stop,  wherever  they 
were,  when  the  attacks  came  upon  him.  The  inter- 
vals between  the  attacks,  however,  they  improved  to 
the  best  possible  advantage — often  rising  at  midnight 
to  resume  their  journey.  They  reached  Portland  the 
week  before  the  session  of  the  conference  was  to 
commence.  Immediately  on  his  arrival,  he  sent  for 
an  eminent  physician  who  had  seen  much  of  the 
fever  and  ague  in  the  West  India  Islands.  He  said 
he  could  cure  him,  and  made  preparations  to  do  it, 
commencing  by  internal  remedies,  and  the  applica- 
tion of  bottles  of  hot  water  to  his  feet  and  back,  a 
short  time  before  the  attack  was  expected  to  come 
on.  By  these  means  he  kept  it  off  for  almost  two 
hours.  "  Then,"  says  the  bishop,  "  I  suddenly  felt  as 
if  I  had  been  plunged  into  cold  water ;  and,  as  I  was 
told  by  those  present,  a  violent  fit  of  the  disease  en- 
sued, which  lasted  twenty  hours.  In  the  shock  I  lost 
my  reason,  and  knew  nothing  the  whole  time.  Tlie 
physician  now  took  another  method,  and,  by  the  use 
of  a  different  remedy,  gradually  wore  off  the  attacks ; 
and  in  about  a  week  or  ten  days  they  entirely 
left  me." 

Only  partially  recovered  as  he  was,  he  managed 


1827.] 


VISIT    TO  CANADA. 


339 


to  preside  part  of  the  time  in  the  conference  and  to 
attend  to  his  other  episcopal  duties.  From  Portland 
he  returned  to  Lynn ;  but  in  a  few  weeks  started  for 
the  Canada  Conference.  His  health  was  quite  infirm; 
he  was  able  to  walk  only  a  short  distance  without 
resting ;  but  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty,  such  were  the 
pressing  necessities  of  the  work,  to  be  absent  from  the 
session  of  the  Canada  Conference,  if  by  any  possibihty 
he  could  reach  the  place.  By  stage  he  went  across  the 
country  to  Ti'oy  and  Schenectady ;  thence  by  canal- 
boat  to  Buffalo.  Here  he  crossed  into  Canada,  and 
thus  succeeded  in  reaching  Hamilton,  about  foiu*  miles 
from  Lake  Ontario,  and  near  Bm-hngton  Heights, 
where  he  opened  the  Canada  Conference,  August  30. 

At  this  time  a  great  drought  was  prevaihng  in  the 
country.  So  severe  was  it  that  all  the  wells  and  siDring-s 
in  the  neighbourhood  failed,  and  the  only  water  that 
could  be  obtained  had  to  be  drawn  from  tlie  neigh- 
bouring swamps,  where  it  had  been  standing  among 
leaves  and  rotten  wood.  Many  of  the  preachers  be- 
came sick  from  its  use,  and  were  unable  to  attend 
the  sessions  of  the  conference.  Bishop  Hedding  also 
suffered,  but  he  toiled  on  through  the  labours  of  the 
session.  During  the  session  of  the  conference,  he 
was  greatly  afflicted  by  the  necessity  which  existed 
of  bringing  the  Rev.  Henry  Ryan  to  trial  before  the 
body.  He  had  been  forward  in  producing  dissension 
among  the  people,  on  account  of  the  action  of  the  last 
General  Conference  in  respect  to  the  Canada  Con- 
ference. Wliat  made  it  peculiarly  painful  to  Bishop 
15 


34:0  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1827. 

Hedding,  Mr.  Eyan  had  been  one  of  his  first  colleagues 
in  the  ministry,  and  was  then  a  zealous,  devoted,  and 
tme-hearted  Methodist  preacher.  The  case  finally 
terminated  by  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Eyan  from  the 
Church. 

According  to  previous  aiTangements,  it  now  became 
Bishop  Hedding's  duty  to  journey  around  the  Canada 
side  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  visit  the  Indian  Missions 
scattered  through  the  wildernesses  of  that  country. 
Scarcely  recovered  from  the  fever  and  ague  with 
which  he  had  been  so  severely  attacked,  especially 
when  taken  in  connexion  with  the  unhealthy  condition 
of  the  country  at  that  time,  it  was  a  hazardous  experi- 
ment; but  the  interests  of  the  Church  required  it, 
and  he  did  not  for  a  moment  hesitate  about  com- 
pliance. His  travelling  companion  was  Eev.  Wm. 
Case,  at  the  time  superintendent  of  these  missions. 
It  was  but  a  few  years  since  the  missions  to  these 
aboriginal  inhabitants  had  been  begun.  The  work 
of  grace  among  them  had  been  carried  forward  most 
powerfully,  and  gi-eat  multitudes  had  been  converted. 
Already  many  of  them  had  learned  to  be  farmers 
and  mechanics,  and  ado]3ted  the  habits  of  civilized 
life.  This  journey,  though  a  laborious  one,  was  full 
of  interest;  and  many  incidents  occurred  illustrative 
of  the  simplicity  of  the  habits  of  the  Indians  and  of 
the  reformation  of  their  lives.  We  shall  be  justified 
in  introducing  a  few  of  these  incidents,  narrated  by 
Bishop  Hedding : — 

"  On  Monday  morning,  a  converted  Indian  came 


1827.]        VISIT   TO   THE   INDIAN   MISSIONS.  341 

to  me  and  said:  'Yesterday  I  crossed  the  River 
Credit  in  a  canoe,  and  the  salmon  were  thick  all 
around  me ;  and  he  no  run  away,  for  he  know  Chris- 
tian Indian  would  not  catch  salmon  on  Sunday.' 

"  I  saw  among  these  natives  an  Indian  who  could 
read  quite  well,  especially  in  the  'New  Testament. 
He  said,  and  others  confirmed  it,  that  he  did  not 
know  his  letters.  I  found,  on  inquiry,  that  he  had 
been  so  anxious  to  learn  to  read  that  he  carried  a 
'New  Testament  with  him  constantly,  and  asked  every 
boy  or  girl  he  met  what  was  the  name  of  any  par- 
ticular word  he  would  point  out.  Thus  he  learned 
the  word  by  its  shape  ;  just  as  a  child  learns  the  name 
of  a  chair,  or  a  spoon,  or  a  hat,  before  it  learns  its 
letters. 

"  I  visited  the  Indians  that  belonged  to  Eice  Lake. 
I  asked  one  of  the  chiefs,  '  How  many  belong  to  your 
tribe  V  and  he  said,  '  Three  hundred.'  I  asked  him, 
'  How  many  have  left  off  drinking  whisky  ?'  and  he 
said,  '  All  but  one.'  I  inquired,  '  How  many  have 
experienced  religion?'  He  replied,  'All  but  one.' 
I  continued,  '  How  many  of  them  pray  V  and  he  said, 
'  All  but  one.'  I  then  said,  '  "Why  does  not  that  one 
pray?'  'Ha!'  said  he,  'he  no  feel  Him  in  here,' 
putting  his  hand  on  his  breast.  On  further  inquiry,  I 
learned  from  the  missionary  that  his  story  was  a  true 
one ;  that  all  the  Indians,  with  one  exception,  in  that 
region,  had  apparently  and  professedly  been  con- 
verted to  the  Lord. 

"I  visited  the  Indians  on  Grape  Island,  an  island  in 


3-i2  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1827. 

Bay  Quinte,  where  tliere  was  a  mission  established.  I 
went  to  this  island  in  company  with  Eev.  AYm.  Case, 
and  Eev.  Mr.  Eeynolds  and  wife,  and  the  two  Indians 
who  managed  the  canoe.  Our  boat  was  an  Indian 
bark  canoe,  and  the  distance  seven  or  eight  miles. 
Before  arriving  at  the  island  the  wind  arose,  and  the 
waves  rolled  qnite  high,  which  made  it  quite  un- 
pleasant, if  not  dangerous.  As  we  approached  the 
island  the  Indians — men,  women,  and  children — came 
down  and  stood  by  the  water  to  see  us  land.  The 
bank  at  the  water's  edge  was  eight  or  ten  feet  per- 
pendicular, and  the  waves  rolled  so  high  that  I  feared 
we  should  not  be  able  to  land  without  getting  wet. 
The  expertness  and  skill  of  those  with  me  in  the  canoe, 
and  those  on  shore,  saved  us  from  this.  The  Indians 
had  cut  rude  stairs  in  the  ground,  to  go  up  and  down 
to  the  water.  Xo  sooner  had  the  bow  of  the  canoe 
struck  the  shore,  than  the  two  preachers  and  the 
two  Lidians  jumped  out ;  at  the  same  time  two  rows 
of  Indians  came  running  down  the  bank,  some  of 
them  in  the  water  to  their  arm-pits,  and  all  seizing 
the  canoe  by  its  rim,  carried  it,  with  the  wife  of  the 
preacher  and  myself  in  it,  high  and  dry  upon  the 
bank ;  and  then,  according  to  their  custom,  I  went 
through  the  ceremony  of  shaking  hands  with  all  the 
tribe — men,  women,  and  children. 

"  On  this  island  there  were  about  three  hundred  In- 
dians, and  nearly  all  of  them  who  were  old  enough  pro- 
fessed religion;  and  they  appeared  to  enjoy  its  spirit 
and  power.    Here  I  had  a  large,  stout,  fine-looking 


1827.] 


CAPTAIN  BEAVEK. 


343 


Indian,  who  had  been  an  old  warrior,  for  my  inter- 
preter. They  called  him  Captain  Beaver.  He  ap- 
peared to  be  solemnly  engaged  in  religion,  and 
deeply  affected  with  its  great  truths.  Before  his  con- 
version he  had  been  a  great  sinner.  The  people  told 
me  that  he  had  killed  one  wife,  and,  in  a  di-unken 
frolic,  had  thrown  a  child  ont  of  doors  into  the  mud, 
and  stamped  it  to  death.  On  one  occasion  I  preached 
to  them  on  the  intercession  of  Christ.  Tlie  whole  con- 
gregation were  greatly  affected,  and  cried  aloud,  so 
that  I  was  obliged  to  stop  for  some  time  before  they 
could  hear  me.  Captain  Beaver,  my  interpreter, 
became  so  affected  that  he  bowed  himself  nearly 
double,  and  cried  aloud,  '  O  !  O  !'  I  was  told  after- 
ward by  the  missionary  that  this  doctrine  of  the 
intercession  of  the  Saviour  had  probably  not  been 
taught  them  before ;  and  it  was  the  discovery  of  it 
then,  for  the  first  time,  which  so  wonderfully  affected 
them. 

"  During  my  visit  to  these  Indians,  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  Peter  Jones  preach  to  them  in  their 
native  tongue ;  and  though  I  could  not  understand  his 
speech,  I  saw  that  his  congregation  were  wonderfully 
affected  by  what  he  said ;  and  as  the  people  went  to 
their  houses,  in  their  village,  they  cried  and  sobbed 
aloud. 

"An  incident  had  occuiTed  just  before  my  visit  to 
them  that  showed  how  strong  had  become  their  ha- 
tred of  whisky  drinking.  A  Christian  Indian  had 
gone  out  in  tlie  bay  in  a  canoe,  and  been  diiven  off 


344  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1827. 

in  a  storm ;  and,  in  his  danger,  had  been  picked  up 
by  a  steamboat.  The  poor  Indian  was  almost  ex- 
hausted, and  the  captain  of  the  steamboat  made  him 
drink  a  glass  of  whisk}^.  When  he  came  back  to 
the  village,  the  Indians  were  so  afflicted  that  he 
should,  under  any  circumstances,  drink  whisky,  that 
they  took  up  a  discipline  with  him ;  and  for  one  whole 
afternoon  and  evening,  alternately,  one  would  exhort 
him  and  another  pray  for  him,  and  then  they  would 
make  him  promise  that  he  would  diink  no  more 
whisky. 

"  I  had  a  meeting  of  the  Indians,  to  allow  them  to 
ask  me  any  questions  they  might  desire.  It  was 
astonishing,  and  sometimes  amusing,  to  hear  the 
questions  they  proposed.  A  squaw  said  she  heard 
her  boy  read  in  the  Testament  that  a  man  and  his 
wife  were  one ;  now,  supposing  that  the  squaw  is 
converted  and  her  husband  is  a  drunkard,  when  they 
die  will  the  Indian  go  to  heaven  with  the  squaw,  or 
must  she  go  to  hell  with  her  husband,  seeing  they  are 
one  ?  I  was  afterward  told  that  the  husband  of  that 
squaw  was  a  drunkard,  and  the  only  unconverted 
person  on  the  island. 

"The  work  of  God  among  the  Indians  through 
that  province  was  the  greatest,  all  things  considered, 
I  ever  saw  among  any  people.  Before  their  conver- 
sion, they  were  almost  universally  drunkards,  both 
men  and  women.  They  were  miserably  poor  and 
Ulthy,  living  in  wigwams,  and  getting  but  a  scanty 
support  by  hunting  and  fishing.    But  when  they 


1827.] 


JOURNEY  HOME. 


345 


were  converted,  they  became  sober  and  regular  in 
their  lives,  and  a  devoutly  religions  people.  They 
abandoned  their  old  sinful  habits,  drunkenness  and 
all,  and  became  farmers  and  learned  mechanical 
trades.  Their  children  were  educated  at  the  mission 
schools.  A  number  of  them  became  powerful  and 
successful  preachers ;  and,  altogether,  they  became  a 
respectable  religious  community,  and  continued  so  to 
the  last  of  my  visiting  them.  From  the  best  informa- 
tion I  have  been  able  to  get  since,  they  have  gener- 
ally persevered  in  sobriety  and  Christianity." 

Bishop  Hedding's  journey  home  from  Grape  Island 
was  anything  but  pleasant.  With  the  horse  he  had 
borrowed,  he  worked  his  way  down  to  Kingston, 
where  he  took  steamboat  to  Ogdensburgh.  From 
this  place  he  designed,  by  public  conveyance,  to  cross 
the  country  to  Lake  Champlain ;  but,  it  being  a  new 
country  and  late  in  the  season,  and  the  roads  in  bad 
condition,  the  stages  had  all  stopped  running.  It 
was  deemed  impossible  to  get  through  with  a  car- 
riage of  any  sort.  His  only  resort,  then,  was  to  hire 
a  hoi*se,  and  obtain  the  aid  of  a  preacher  to  go  with 
him  and  bring  the  horse  back.  In  this  way  they 
wallowed  through  the  mire  to  Lake  Champlain,  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles.  Here  he 
took  a  horse  that  he  had  left  two  or  three  years  be- 
fore, and,  crossing  Lake  Champlain  into  Yermont, 
proceeded  as  far  as  Middlebury. 

It  had  now  become  late  in  ISTovember,  and  his 
horse  trotted  so  hard  that  he  found  he  would  be  una- 


346  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1827. 

ble  to  endure  tliat  mode  of  travel.  He  accordingly 
sold  his  horse  and  took  stage  for  Troy,  which  he  had 
engaged  to  visit  on  his  way  home. 

The  object  of  his  visit  to  Troy  was  to  dedicate  the 
now  Methodist  church  which  had  been  erected  in 
State-street.  The  dedication  took  place  on  the  1st 
day  of  December,  on  wliich  occasion  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  preached  a  powerful  and  apj)ropriate  sermon 
fi'om  Isa.  ii,  1-3.  Being  now  too  much  exhausted 
and  in  too  feeble  a  state  of  health  to  attempt  a  pas- 
sage in  the  stage  across  the  country  to  Lynn,  he  em- 
barked on  a  boat  for  Kew-York  city.  The  river, 
which  had  been  closed  by  ice  for  several  days,  had 
just  been  opened  by  a  sudden  thaw ;  consequently 
the  boat  was  filled  to  repletion  with  passengers. 
The  crowd  was  so  great  he  could  hnd  no  place  to  lie, 
and  scarcely  a  place  where  he  could  sit.  The  weather 
was  exceedingly  cold  and  stormy,  and  the  river  full 
of  floating  ice.  The  ]3assage  from  Albany  to  Kew- 
York  occupied  a  day  and  a  night. 

From  New- York,  Bishop  Hedding  wrote  to  his 
wife  : — I  have  passed  over  many  rough  waters  and 
rough  lands,  and  it  is  a  wonderful  and  kind  Provi- 
dence by  which  my  life  and  limbs  have  been  pre- 
served so  long.  I  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the 
Author  of  all  good  for  temporal  as  well  as  for  spirit- 
ual mercies.  O  that  I  may  in  the  end  be  found 
ready  to  render  an  account  to  my  God  for  an  im- 
provement of  all  his  mercies!"  From  various  causes 
he  was  delayed  so  that  he  did  not  reach  home  till  the 


1827.]  MAINE   WESLEYAN    SEMINARY.  347 

last  of  December,  having  been  absent,  witli  the  ex- 
ception of  one  short  visit,  nearly  ten  months. 

The  year  had  been  one  of  general  prosperity  in  the 
Church.  Every  conference  in  the  connexion  reported 
an  increase  of  members.  The  greatest  increase  was 
in  the  Genesee  Conference,  which  amounted  to  three 
thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-nine.  The  whole 
increase  in  the  Church  was  twenty-one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ninety-seven,  making  the  total  member- 
ship three  hundred  and  eighty-one  thousand  nine 
hundi^ed  and  ninety-seven.  The  number  of  travelling 
preachers  reported  this  year  was  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  seventy-six,  being  an  increase  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy. 

During  this  year  the  Maine  Wesleyan  Seminary 
was  established  at  Readfield,  Maine.  "Father  Samp- 
son," an  old  and  wealthy  member  of  the  society  in 
that  place,  had  given  an  eligibly  located  farm,'  valued 
at  $10,000,  for  this  purpose.  A  manual  labour  de- 
partment, embracing  agriculture  and  the  mechanical 
arts,  was  connected  with  the  institution.  This  de- 
partment proved  of  immense  advantage  to  many 
indigent  students,  as  well  as  to  many  others  whose 
constitutions  were  too  feeble  to  endure  the  confine- 
ment of  close  study  without  the  physical  exercise  it 
secured,  and  thus  tended  to  build  up  the  institution. 
But,  on  the  whole,  it  was  difiicult  to  maintain  it,  and 
after  an  experience  of  some  ten  or  twelve  years  it  was 
given  up.  The  seminary,  however,  from  the  begin- 
ning, lias  continued  to  flourish,  and  has  sent  forth  a 
15* 


348  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1827 

large  number  who  are  now  prominent  ministers  in  both 
of  the  Maine  Conferences.  Others  have  been  carried, 
by  the  Providence  of  God,  beyond  the  bounds  of  the 
state,  where  they  also  are  doing  good  service  for  the 
cause  of  Christ.  Twenty-three  years  ago, — dating 
from  the  spring  of  1854, — a  rustic  boy,  we  ascended 
"  the  Hill  of  Science,"  as  we  students  were  wont  to 
call  the  place,  and  became  a  member  of  the  institu- 
tion. Here,  under  the  tuition  of  the  lamented  Merritt 
Caldwell,  we  spent  a  little  over  three  laborious  and 
happy  years.  Through  all  changes  of  life  they  will 
not  be  forgotten.  Grateful  will  we  ever  be,  that  at 
this  early  date  there  was  a  Methodist  seminary  in 
the  land,  where,  under  the  genial  influences  of  her 
economy  and  her  spirit,  the  soul  might  rise  in  virtue 
as  in  knowledo^e.  We  have  lono^  since  in  our  heart 
forgiven  the  good  but  mistaken  old  preacher,  who, 
on  learning  our  purpose  to  acquire,  if  possible,  an 
education,  said,  "xVli,  Davis,  I  fear  you  will  get  too 
proud  to  be  a  Methodist  preacher !" 

In  all  these  early  educational  movements,  Bishop 
Hedding  took  a  deep  and  abiding  interest.  He  look- 
ed upon  them  as  pillars  of  strength  in  the  Church. 
Even  then,  he  felt  and  said:  "The  time  will  come 
when  our  ministers  will  need  a  higher  degree  of  edu- 
cation than  at  the  beginning,  and  we  must  have  our 
OAvn  schools  so  that  they  may  be  educated  aright. 
Our  people,  too,  will  be  educating  their  sons  and 
daughters,  and  if  we  do  not  have  schools  they  will 
send  them  elsewhere,  and  then  they  will  be  in  danger 


1828.]     CLOSE   OF   THE   FIRST   QUADEENNIAL.  349 

of  being  lost  to  the  Cliiircli.  If  we  would  keep  our 
people  and  make  them  stable  and  strong  as  Chi-istians, 
we  must  provide  books,  and  periodicals,  and  schools 
for  them." 

After  spending  a  little  more  than  two  months  at 
home,  and  in  visiting  the  societies  in  its  neighbour- 
hood, Bishop  Hedding  left  on  a  tour  of  visitation  to 
the  Churches,  and  finally  met  Bishop  George  in  Phil- 
adelphia, where  that  conference  convened  on  the  1st 
day  of  April,  1828.  This  closed  the  first  quadrennial 
division  of  his  long  and  important  service  as  a  bishop. 


350 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF  HEDDING. 


[1828. 


CHAPTEE  Xn. 

SECOND  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOURS. 

Goes  to  the  General  Conference  —  Doubts  about  the  Duty  of  Continuing 
in  the  Office  —  The  General  Conference — Progress  of  the  "Radical 
Movement "  —  Changes  sought  for  —  The  "  Union  Society  "  —  "  Mutual 
Rights" — Dr,  Bond's  "Appeal"  —  Church  Trials  in  Baltimore  —  Me- 
morial to  the  General  Conference  —  Report  of  the  Committee  —  Asa 
Shinn  moves  its  Adoption  —  Nine-tenths  of  the  People  opposed  to  the 
proposed  Change  —  Bishop  Hedding  misrepresented  in  the  "  Mutual 
Rights"  by  "Timothy" — Seeks  Redress  —  "Timothy's"  Anonymous 
Certificates  —  Bishop  Hedding  brings  the  Matter  before  the  General  Con- 
ference—  Action  of  the  Committee  on  the  Episcopacy  —  Testimony  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Delegation — Confession  of  Rev.  George  Brown,  the  Real 
"Timothy  "  —  Triumphant  Vindication  of  the  Bishop  —  Progress  of  the 
Work  during  the  Four  Years  — Close  of  the  General  Conference  —  Route 
to  New-York — Perils  upon  Lake  Erie  —  Parts  with  Bishop  George  for 
the  Last  Time  —  Their  Association  and  Attachment  —  Dr.  Bangs's  Por- 
traiture of  the  Character  of  Bishop  George  —  Outline  of  his  Life  and 
Labours  —  Responsibility  that  had  rested  on  Bishop  Hedding  —  Route 
into  New-England  —  Perilous  Accident  —  Visit  to  Canada  —  The  Inde- 
pendent Organization  of  the  Canada  Conference  completed  —  A  Dying 
Father's  Charge  to  his  Son  to  maintain  "  the  Family  Altar"  —  The  Re- 
sult —  Close  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Year  —  Progress  of  the  Work  —  Increase 
in  the  Church  during  the  "Radical  Movement" — Prophesied  Ruin  of 
the  Church  not  realized  —  Bishop  Hedding  spends  the  Winter  of  1828-9 
in  Lynn  —  Sermon  on  Dancing  —  Philadelphia,  New-York,  and  New- 
England  Conferences  for  1829  —  Excitement  on  Masonry  —  Maine  Confer- 
ence —  Tour  of  Visitation  to  the  Churches  —  Refused  Entertainment  by 
a  Wealthy  Methodist. 

In  company  with  Bishop  George,  Bishop  Hedding 
proceeded  from  the  seat  of  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence to  Pittsburgh,  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.  Under  date  of  March  25,  he  wrote 
to  his  wife  from  Philadelphia:  "I  go  to  General  Con- 


1828.] 


GENERAL  CONFEKENCE. 


361 


ference  under  great  anxieties  of  mind  respecting  what 
I  ouglit  to  do  about  continuing  in  my  office.  My  in- 
clination is  strong  to  resign ;  but  tlie  preachers  say, 
Go  on.  Let  me  do  whichever  I  will,  I  expect  to 
linger  out  the  remains  of  my  poor  life  in  suffering. 
If  I  desist  from  travelling,  my  infirmities  will  provide 
sufferings  for  me ;  if  I  continue  to  travel,  the  time  of 
my  suffering  will,  perhaps,  be  shorter.  The  great  ob- 
ject with  me  is  to  know,  in  this  respect,  what  will  be 
most  acceptable  to  Him  whose  I  am  and  whom  1 
serve ;  for  I  think  I  desire  to  know  and  do  his  will  in 
all  things.  Some  people,  and  perhaps  some  preachers, 
think  my  situation  in  the  Church  very  pleasant ;  but 
it  is  because  they  are  ignorant  of  its  labours  and  its 
trials.  I  feel  great  need  of  help  from  above.  I  desire 
your  prayers  that  I  may  be  directed  aright.  The 
Lord  bless  you." 

Li  this  General  Conference  there  were  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  delegates,  representing  seventeen 
annual  conferences.  So  great  was  the  ratio  of  rep- 
resentation that  the  ISTew-York  Conference  had 
eighteen  delegates,  also  the  Genesee ;  while  the  New- 
England  had  seventeen  and  the  Philadelphia  fifteen. 
The  five  bishops  were  present ;  and  the  opening  ser- 
vices of  the  conference  were  conducted  by  Bishop 
M'Kendree. 

Several  subjects  of  very  grave  importance  came  be- 
fore this  body  for  consideration.  The  relation  of  the 
brethren  in  Canada  was  adjusted  to  the  mutual  satis- 
faction of  the  parties  as  nearly  as  it  could  be.  But, 


352  LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1828. 

perhaps  more  than  all,  the  radical"^  controversy  and 
movements  claimed  the  attention  of  the  conference. 
This  had  now  grown  to  be  a  serious  difficulty  in  the 
Church,  producing  not  only  suspicion  and  alienation 
of  feeling  in  it,  but  secession  from  it.  As  early  as 
1820,  a  periodical  called  the  "  Wesleyan  Eepository" 
had  been  started  in  Trenton,  Xew- Jersey.  Its  object 
was  to  effect  a  change  in  the  economy  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  so  that  lay  delegates  might  be  intro- 
duced into  the  General  and  Annual  Conferences; 
and  so  also  that,  in  some  way  not  clearly  defined,  the 
functions  of  the  episcopacy  might  be  essentially  modi- 
fied. It  was  patronized  by  a  few  travelling  preachers 
and  a  few  lay  members ;  but  the  local  preachei*s  were 
its  principal  supporters.  Yery  few  of  its  correspond- 
ents were  known  to  the  public,  their  articles  being 
generally  published  over  fictitious  signatures.  To  fur- 
ther their  designs,  the  "  Union  Society"  was  organized 
in  182-1  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  a  committee  of 
correspondence  appointed,  whose  special  duty  was  to 
correspond  with  the  disaffected  in  chfferent  parts  of 
the  Chm-ch,  and  to  secm-e  the  organization  of  auxilia- 
ries to  the  "Union  Society"  wherever  it  could  be 
effected.  The  movement,  which  had  hitherto  been 
inchoate,  now  assumed  an  organized  and  somewhat 
formidable  shape.  Soon  after,  the  publication  of  the 
"Mutual  Eights"  was  commenced  in  Baltimore.  It 
was  exceedingly  violent  and  denunciatory,  of  not 

We  use  this  as  a  convenient  term,  and  do  not  intend  it  in  an 
olFensive  sense. 


1828.] 


THE   RADICAL  SECESSION. 


353 


only  the  economy  of  the  Church,  but  also  of  the 
officers  of  the  Chm-ch.  Its  writers  generally  assumed 
fictitious  signatures ;  but  several  of  them  were  known 
to  be  prominent  travelling  preachers.  In  this  crisis 
of  affairs  Dr.  Bond's  masterly  "Appeal  to  the  Meth- 
odists, in  Opposition  to  the  Changes  proposed  in 
their  Church  Government,"  was  published,  and  pro- 
duced a  powerful  effect,  especially  ujDon  those  who 
had  not  already  committed  themselves  to  tlie  new  and 
perilous  movement.  But  before  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1828,  matters  had  proceeded  to  such  a  degree 
of  open  violence  against  the  Church,  on  the  part  of 
the  more  radical,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hanson,  then 
preacher  in  charge  of  the  Baltimore  Station,  was 
compelled  to  cite  several  local  preachers  and  several 
lay  brethren  to  trial  on  the  charge  of  "inveighing 
against  our  Discipline,"  "speaking  evil  of  minis- 
ters," &c.  On  this  charge  they  were  severally  con- 
victed ;  and  after  laborious  but  ineffectual  effort  to 
bring  about  some  adjustment  of  the  difficulty,  they 
were  expelled  from  the  communion  of  the  Church. 
The  withdrawal  of  others  followed,  and  the  separatists 
formed  themselves  into  a  society  called  the  "  Associ- 
ated Methodist  Reformers,"  and  finally  assumed  the 
title  of  the  "  Methodist  Protestant  Church."  In  the 
month  of  November,  1827,  a  General  Convention 
of  the  "reformers"  was  held  in  Baltimore,  and  a 
memorial,  setting  forth  their  rights,  gi'ievances,  and 
claims,  sent  up  to  the  General  Conference.  This 
memorial  was  referred  to  an  able  committee,  of 


354  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1828. 

which  Dr.  Emory  was  chairman.  Dr.  Bond  was  also 
present,  and  corresponded  freely  with  the  committee 
in  their  deliberations.  Having  been  resident  at  the 
seat  of  war,"  and  having  in  fact  been  foremost  in 
the  heat  of  the  battle  in  all  its  successive  stages,  no 
one  was  so  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  its  phases, 
and  so  completely  posted  up  in  all  matters  relating  to 
it.  The  report  of  the  committee  was  able  and  conclu- 
sive. It  was  presented  by  Dr.  Emory,  as  chairman, 
and  immediately  adopted  by  the  General  Conference. 
It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  Eev.  Asa  Shinn  moved 
the  adoption  of  the  report,  and  also  that  five  thousand 
copies  of  it  be  printed  immediately.*  This  was  the 
final  settlement  of  the  question,  so  far  as  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Church  was  concerned.  The  radicals 
claimed  to  give  utterance  to  the  voice  of  the  people 
in  the  demands  they  made ;  but  the  General  Confer- 
ence, from  data  tlien  in  their  possession,  and  which 
subsequent  facts  abundantly  verified,  were  satisfied 
that  they  did  not  represent  one-tenth  part  of  the 
Church,  and  that  yielding  to  their  demands  would 
not  only  peril  the  future  success  of  the  Church,  but 
be  acting  contrary  to  the  views  and  feelings  of  nine- 
tenths  of  all  its  members,  both  lay  and  ministerial. 

"We  have  seen  how  Bishop  Hedding  w^as  compelled 
to  breast  the  storm  of  this  radical  innovation  at  the 
Pittsburgh  Conference  in  1826.  Of  com-se,  it  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  that  the  bold  and  decided 
stand  he  then  took  should  bring  down  upon  him  the 

See  the  "  Itinerant"  for  April  15,  1829. 


1828.]  ASSAILED   IN   THE    "MUTUAL   RIGHTS."  355 

maledictions  of  the  reformers.  His  address  before 
the  Pittsburgh  Conference  was  misrepresented  and 
perverted  by  several  who  heard  it ;  and  a  member 
of  the  conference,  the  Rev.  George  Brown,  over  the 
signature  of  "  Timothy,"  wrote  for  the  "  Mutual 
Eights"  a  violent  article,  assailing  the  course  of  the 
bishop,  and  misrepresenting  his  action,  and  also  his 
address.  In  the  spring  of  1827  Bishop  Hedding, 
being  in  Baltimore,  called  upon  the  editors  of  the 
"Mutual  Bights,"  and  requested  the  name  of  the 
person  who  had  assailed  him  in  their  columns  over  the 
signature  of  "Timothy."  This  the  editors  declined 
giving  except  on  two  conditions,  namely, — that  the 
bishop  should  make  his  request  in  writing,  and  that 
they  should  obtain  the  consent  of  the  author.  Accord- 
ingly the  bishop  wrote  them  a  note  requesting  the 
real  name  of  "  Timothy,"  and  stating  that  the  repre- 
sentation made  by  him  of  his  address  before  the  Pitts- 
burgh Conference  was  a  misrepresentation  through- 
out. This  communication  the  editors  published  in 
their  paper,  and  also  forwarded  to  the  Bev.  George 
Brown.  To  vindicate  himself  before  the  public,  Mr. 
Brown  procured  the  signatures  of  about  a  dozen  of  the 
radical  members  of  the  conference  to  certificates  testi- 
fying to  the  correctness  of  the  representation  of  the 
bishop's  address  made  by  "  Timothy,"  These  several 
certificates  were  published  conspicuously  in  the  "  Mu- 
tual Eights,"  though  without  appending  the  names 
of  the  signers;  and  thus  an  impression  exceedingly 
prejudicial  to  the  moral  and  ministerial  character  of 


356  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIIsG.  [1828. 

the  bishop  was  sought  to  be  made  upon  the  public 
mind. 

Bishop  Hedding  desired  to  meet  the  question  before 
the  Pittsburgh  Conference  in  1827,  but  his  oflficial 
duties  rendered  it  impossible  for  him  to  be  there. 
Consequently  the  earliest  point  at  which  his  vindica- 
tion could  be  reached  was  at  the  session  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  in  1828,  which  fortunately  was  at 
Pittsburgh,  and  within  the  bounds  of  the  conference 
before  which  his  address  was  delivered.  Accordingly 
he  took  an  early  opportunity  to  state  the  facts  to  the 
General  Conference,  and  to  invoke  their  action  in  the 
case,  saying  that  if  the  accusations  against  him  were 
true,  he  ought  no  longer  to  be  a  bishop  or  even  a 
minister  in  the  Church ;  but  if  they  were  not  true,  it 
was  due  to  him,  to  the  Church,  and  to  the  cause  of 
truth,  that  he  should  receive  a  vindication;  and  to 
this  end  he  desired  a  full  and  impartial  investigation. 
The  matter  was,  accordingly,  referred  to  the  Commit- 
tee on  the  Episcopacy.  We  are  in  possession  of  a  cer- 
tified copy  of  the  report  of  that  committee,  taken  from 
the  General  Conference  records  in  1852,  and  which 
we  here  give  entire  : — • 

"  The  Committee  on  Episcopacy,  to  whom  the  letter 
of  the  Pev.  E.  Hedding  to  the  General  Conference 
was  referred,  submit  the  following : — 

"  An  article  having  appeared  in  the  '  Mutual 
Pights,'  over  the  signature  of  'Timothy,'  purporting 
to  be  an  address  to  the  junior  bishop,  E.  Hedding,  in 
relation  to  an  address  delivered  by  the  bishop  to  the 


1828.] 


VINDICATED. 


367 


members  of  the  Pittsburgh  Annual  Conference  in 
August,  1826,  which  the  bishop  considered  unjust — a 
misrepresentation  throughout,  and  a  base  slander  upon 
his  character,  as  he  declared  in  a  note  to  the  editor 
of  the  said  '  Mutual  Rights,'  which  note  was  published 
in  that  periodical ;  and  several  anonymous  certificates 
having  also  been  published  in  said  '  Mutual  Eights ' 
justifying  the  representations  in  'Timothy,'  and  of 
course  contradicting  the  contents  of  the  bishop's  note. 
These  various  circumstances  the  bishop  conceived 
had  already  operated  to  his  injury,  and  might  so 
operate  in  future ;  and  he  therefore  felt  himself  called 
upon  to  lay  the  matter  before  the  General  Conference, 
and  to  invite  investigation.  This  he  did  in  a  written 
communication,  which,  after  being  read  before  the 
conference,  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the 
Episcopacy.  That  committee,  having  taken  the  same 
into  consideration,  resolved  to  procure  a  meeting  be- 
tween the  bishop  and  the  delegates  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Annual  Conference  in  the  presence  of  the  committee, 
and  in  presence  of  the  writer  of  the  article  signed 
'  Timothy,'  in  order,  as  far  as  possible,  to  ascertain  the 
character  of  the  address  delivered  by  the  bishop  to 
the  Pittsburgh  Conference. 

"The  plan  pursued  to  attain  this  object  was  for  the 
members  of  the  said  delegation,  severally,  first  to  state 
their  recollections  of  that  address,  and  then  to  answer 
the  questions  proposed  to  them  on  the  subject.  After 
all  those  delegates  had  thus  communicated  to  the 
committee  their  recollections,  a  paper  was  read  con- 


358 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1828. 


taining  as  accurate  an  outline  of  tlie  address  of  the 
bishop  as  he  had  been  able  to  make  out  from  his 
own  recollection.  The  recollections  of  the  delegates 
from  the  Pittsburgh  Annual  Conference,  and  of  Bishop 
Hedding,  were  not  only  substantially,  but,  in  a  remark- 
able degree,  circumstantially  concurrent. 

"  The  bishop  then  pointed  out  the  injustice,  misrep- 
resentation, and  slander  *of  his  character,  which  he 
considered  as  pervading  the  address  signed  '  Timothy.' 
After  which  the  author  of  that  article,  having  been 
permitted  to  address  the  committee,  acknowledged, 
that  in  not  properly  distinguishing  in  two  instances, 
he  had  done  injustice,  giving  the  general  character 
of  the  bishop's  address — that  some  of  the  inferences 
he  had  drawn  were  unjust — and  that,  as  his  premises 
were  incorrect,  all  the  inferences  drawn  from  them 
might  be  eri'oneous. 

"  Your  committee  beg  leave,  therefore,  to  declare, 
as  the  result  of  their  investigations  in  this  matter,  that 
they  consider  the  view  presented  in  the  bishop's  note 
to  the  editor  of  the  '  Mutual  Rights,'  of  the  article 
signed  '  Timothy,'  to  have  been  strictly  correct. 

"The  committee  would  further  declare,  that,  in 
their  opinion,  the  address  of  Bishop  Hedding,  as 
recollected  by  himself  and  the  delegates  of  Pitts- 
burgh Annual  Conference,  not  only  was  not  deserv- 
ing of  censure,  but  was  such  as  the  circumstances  of 
the  case  rendered  it  his  official  duty  to  deliver. 

(Signed,)         ''S.  G.  Roszel,  Chairman. 

"Pittsburgh,  May  15,  1828." 


1828.] 


PKOGEESS    OF   THE  WOEK. 


359 


Tlie  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted  by  the 
conference  without  dissent.  This  complete  vindica- 
tion of  Bishop  Hedding  was  regarded  by  his  friends 
as  still  more  triumphant,  because  in  the  Pittsburgh 
delegation  there  were  at  least  two  individuals  who 
had  all  along  sympathized  with  the  radical  move- 
ment, and  had,  at  the  outset,  placed  the  same  con- 
struction upon  the  bishop's  address  that  "Timothy" 
did  in  his  article ;  and,  in  fact,  stimulated  him  to  the 
course  he  pursued,  and  which  eventuated  in  his  with- 
drawal from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurch.  We 
refer  to  the  Eev.  Asa  Shinn  and  the  Eev.  H.  B. 
Bascom. 

At  this  General  Conference  two  new  annual  con- 
ferences were  organized,  namely,  the  Oneida  and  the 
ISTew-Hampshire  and  Vermont.  But  as  the  Canada 
Conference  now  ceased  to  be  an  integral  portion  of 
the  Church,  there  was  an  increase  of  only  one  annual 
conference.  The  progress  of  the  work,  however,  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  country  had  been  great  be- 
yond precedent  during  the  four  years.  This  may  be 
seen  from  the  actual  increase,  which  was  no  less  than 
one  hundred  and  six  thousand  five  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  members  in  four  years,  and  five  hundi-ed 
and  three  ministers. 

At  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  Bishops 
George  and  Hedding  started  for  JSTew-York  city, 
where  they  were  to  meet  the  New- York  Conference 
on  the  25th  of  June.  Having  experienced  a  rather 
rough  journey  on  their  way  out  across  the  mountains, 


360  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1828. 

thej  determined  to  take  another  route  home.  Ac- 
cordingly, they  took  a  steamer  down  the  Ohio  to 
Beaver.  Here  the  captain  found  it  more  convenient 
to  land  his  passengers  on  the  side  of  the  river  oppo- 
site to  Beaver  in  the  woods.  They  were  landed  about 
midnight ;  it  was  both  dark  and  rainy,  and  the  party 
had  to  grope  their  way  for  a  long  time  before  they 
could  find  a  place  of  shelter.  They,  however,  made 
the  best  of  it,  and  early  the  next  day  took  stage  from 
Beaver  for  Ashtabula,  on  Lake  Erie.  "  It  was  a  des- 
perate road,"  says  Bishop  Hedding,  "through  mud 
and  swamps."  They  at  length  got  through  the 
"swamps,"  but  this  was  by  no  means  the  end  of 
their  troubles ;  for,  when  they  reached  Ashtabula, 
the  wind  was  so  high  that  no  steamer  could  land. 
Quite  a  company  having  been  detained  here,  they 
chartered  a  schooner  to  take  them  to  Bufialo.  But 
no  sooner  was  the. vessel  out  upon  the  lake  than  she 
tossed  about  and  careened  in  a  such  a  manner  that 
Bishop  Hedding  at  once  suspected  she  was  without 
sufficient  ballast  to  make  her  safe,  especially  as  the 
wind  was  blowing  a  gale ;  and,  upon  looking  down 
through  the  hatchway,  he  found  to  his  dismay  that 
there  was  neither  ballast  nor  freight  in  her  hold. 
He  soon  after  made  another  discovery  which  added 
nothing  to  his  comfort :  he  found  that  both  captain 
and  crew  were  half  drunk,  and  well  supplied  with 
brandy  for  the  voyage.  The  wind,  however,  was  in 
the  right  direction,  and  the  vessel  ploughed  through 
the  water  at  a  terrible  rate,  sometimes  veering  to  so 


1828.1  DEATH    OF    BISHOP    GEORGE.  361 

as  to  head  in  toward  the  land  and  shake  all  the  wind 
out  of  the  sails,  and  at  others  falling  off  so  that  the 
main-boom  wonld  sweep  across  the  deck  with  a  force 
that  made  the  whole  vessel  quiver  as  though  she 
wonld  break  in  pieces.  "  In  this  way,"  says  Bishop 
Hedding,  "we  tumbled  over  or  ploughed  through 
the  waters  for  over  two  hundred  miles,  in  most  immi- 
nent danger  the  whole  voyage."  They,  however, 
reached  Buffalo  in  safety,  and  from  thence  had  a 
pleasant  passage  by  canal-boat  to  Albany,  and  by 
steamboat  to  ^Tew-York. 

Here  they  enjoyed  a  pleasant  session  of  the  ITew- 
York  Conference;  and  an  increase  of  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  making  a  total 
membership  of  thirty-one  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
forty-one,  attested  the  continued  prosperity  of  the 
work.  After  this  conference  Bishops  George  and 
Hedding  parted  to  meet  no  more  on  earth.  Bishop 
George  left  to  meet  the  Holston  Conference,  which 
was  to  hold  its  session  in  Jonesborough,  Tenn.  He 
had  proceeded  on  his  journey  as  far  as  Staunton,  Ya., 
when  he  was  attacked  with  the  dysentery.  The  at- 
tack, from  the  first,  was  very  severe,  and  throughout 
defied  all  medical  skill.  Its  work  was  accomplished 
in  a  few  days ;  and  on  the  23d  of  August,  with  the 
exclamation  "Glory  to  God!"  still  lingering  on  his 
tongue.  Bishop  George  ceased  from  his  labours.  His 
sudden  and  unexpected  death  gave  a  shock  to  the 
whole  Church.  Few,  however,  felt  it  more  deeply 
than  Bishop  Hedding.    For  four  years  they  had 


362  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  L1828. 

"been  intimately  associated  together;  in  company 
they  had  travelled  many  thousand  miles,  and  pre- 
sided over  a  large  number  of  conferences.  During 
these  labours  a  mutual  and  strong  attachment  had 
sprung  up  between  them.  "Bishop  George  was  a 
man  of  deep  piety,  of  great  simplicity  of  manners, 
a  very  pathetic,  powerful,  and  successful  preacher, 
greatly  beloved  in  life,  and  very  extensively  lamented 
in  death."  Such  is  the  testimony  of  his  contempora- 
ries concerning  him.  We  judge,  that  he  was  a  man 
of  deep  sympathy  and  feeling,  and  that  in  this  is  to 
be  found  the  secret  of  his  success  in  the  pulpit. 

Bishop  George  was  a  native  of  Yirginia,  and  was 
born  in  1Y67.  He  entered  the  travelling  connexion 
in  1790,  travelled  principally  in  Yirginia  and  Mary- 
land till  1816,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  episcopal 
office.  He  was  therefore  forty-nine  years  of  age,  and 
had  travelled  twenty-six  years  when  he  was  elected 
bishop :  which  office  he  filled  twelve  years,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  Bisliop  Hedding  met  the  'New- 
England  Conference  at  Lynn;  and  on  the  14th  of 
August,  the  Maine  Conference  at  Vienna.  From 
this  place  he  crossed  New-Hampshire  and  Vermont 
on  his  way  to  Upper  Canada,  where  he  was  to  meet 
that  conference.  On  his  route  he  visited  the  societies 
as  far  as  he  could ;  and  when  he  reached  the  shores 
of  Lake  Champlain,  he  turned  aside  from  his  course  a 
few  days  to  attend  a  camp-meeting  at  Charlotte,  not 
far  from  Burlington.    He  was  now  in  the  region  of 


1828.] 


PERILOUS  ACCIDENT. 


363 


his  early  home.  Here  he  had  experienced  religion, 
and  here  commenced  his  ministry.  At  this  camp- 
meeting  he  met  many  of  his  old  associates  and  friends, 
and  with  them  talked  over  the  scenes  that  had  trans- 
pired thirty  years  before.  It  was  to  him  a  precious 
and  refreshing  time.  As  they  together  recounted  the 
mercies  of  God,  his  soul  was  filled  with  unspeakable 

joy. 

Shortly  after  this,  while  prosecuting  his  journey,  he 
met  with  a  somewhat  serious  accident  which  well 
nigh  terminated  his  labours.  He  was  in  the  midst  of 
a  forest,  and  as  the  sun  was  setting,  he  felt  in  haste 
to  reach  the  settlement  before  night  closed  around 
him.  While  riding  at  a  rapid  pace  over  a  bridge 
thrown  across  a  deep  ravine,  his  horse  broke  a  plank, 
and  both  his  fore  feet  went  down  through  the  open- 
ing. The  shock  was  so  sudden  that  Bishop  Hedding 
was  thrown  out  of  his  sulky  some  eight  or  ten  feet 
over  the  head  of  his  horse,  and  for  some  time  lay 
insensible.  When  he  came  to,  he  found  himself  lying 
upon  the  very  edge  of  the  bridge,  below  which  yawned 
a  chasm  twenty  feet  deep,  down  which,  had  he  fallen, 
he  must  ine-^-itably  have  been  dashed  to  pieces  upon 
the  rough  rocks  at  the  bottom.  After  rendering  thanks- 
giving to  God  for  his  preservation,  he  looked  around 
for  his  horse,  and  found  him  out  of  the  hole,  but  en- 
tangled in  the  harness  and  lying  broadside  upon  the 
bridge.  "With  great  difficulty  he  disengaged  him,  got 
him  up  and  resumed  his  journey.  When  he  reached 
Chazy,  X.  Y.,  he  wrote  to  his  wife,  imder  date  of  Sep- 
16 


1 

t 

364  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1828. 

tember  20 :  "  Tkrougli  the  mercy  of  God  I  am  yet 
alive.  My  good  friend  and  fellow-traveller,  Bishop 
George,  is  taken  and  I  am  left ;  I  feel  myself  solemnly 
admonished  to  be  ready  also ;  I  seem  to  myself  like 
one  walking  on  the  brink  of  the  grave."  After  giving 
an  account  of  the  accident  that  occurred  to  him,  he 
says  :  "  The  sudden  shock  shook  the  poor  old  building 
with  such  violence  that  it  had  well  nigh  gone  to 
pieces;  but  I  am  now  gradually  recovering."  He 
then  sends  his  love  to  "  all  who  may  inquire  after  a 
wandering  pilgrim,"  and  adds :  Some  people  think 
it  a  wonderful  privilege  to  be  a  Methodist  bishop ;  but 
if  they  had  to  drag  around  with  me  one  year,  I  think 
they  would  alter  their  opinion." 

From  Chazy  Bishop  Hedding  passed  across  the 
country  to  Ogdensburgh,  on  the  St.  Lawrence  Kiver, 
and  proceeded  by  steamboat  to  Kingston.  Here,  in 
company  with  several  preachers,  he  hired  a  lumber- 
wagon  with  two  horses,  and  proceeded  through  a 
rough  wilderness  country  to  Ancaster,  the  seat  of  the 
conference. 

We  have  already  mentioned  the  desire  of  the 
brethren  in  Canada,  on  account  of  civil  and  pohtical 
relations,  to  dissolve  their  ecclesiastical  connexion 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States,  and  also  the  action  of  the  General  Conference 
looking  toward  such  an  event.  This,  therefore,  was 
to  be  the  last  session  of  the  Canada  Conference  in  its 
present  ecclesiastical  connexion.  Bishop  Hedding 
had  been  mainly  instrumental  in  preventing  a  vio- 


1828.1  SEPARATION  OF  CANADA  CONFEEENCE.  365 

lent  disruption  of  the  conference  four  jeai*s  before; 
and  now  he  was  exceedingly  anxious  that  the  new 
ecclesiastical  organization  should  come  into  existence 
under  circumstances  that  would  tend  to  perpetuate 
the  union  of  feeling  and  sympathy  between  the 
Methodists  on  both  sides  of  the  line.  He  also  de- 
sired that  their  act  of  separation  should  be  such  as 
would  bear  judicial  scrutiny.  Accordingly,  after  the 
usual  conference  business  had  all  been  transacted, 
resolutions  were  introduced  and  adopted  by  the 
body,  declaring  their  ecclesiastical  connexion  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States 
dissolved,  and  organizing  themselves  into  a  separate 
and  independent  Church  by  the  name  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  Canada.  Bishop  Hedding 
then,  after  congratulating  them  on  their  prosperity, 
and  upon  the  amicable  attainment  of  a  result  that, 
in  their  judgment,  promised  so  much  usefulness  to 
themselves,  vacated  the  chxiir;  and  thenceforward 
the  "Canada  Conference"  became  the  "Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Canada." 

While  at  this  conference  Bishop  Hedding  re- 
newed an  acquaintance  with  a  family  by  the  name 
of  Sweetzer,  whom  he  had  known  in  [N^orthern  USTew- 
York  twenty-eight  yeai-s  before.  Mr.  Sweetzer  had 
recently  died,  and  from  the  surviving  widow  he 
gathered  the  following  interesting  item  of  family 
history.  A  short  time  before  his  death,  his  son,  an 
only  child,  had  married  and  brought  his  wife  home, 
and  they  lived  with  his  parents.    This  son,  though  a 


366  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1828. 

moral  young  man,  had  been  apparently  indifferent 
to  the  subject  of  religion  up  to  the  period  of  his 
father's  death.  When  his  father  was  upon  his  dying 
bed  he  called  his  son  to  his  side,  told  him  that  he 
was  about  to  die,  charged  him  to  take  care  of  his 
mother,  and  then  tenderly  addressed  him  upon  the 
subject  of  his  own  soul's  salvation.  After  this,  he 
added : — "  My  son,  I  believe  I  am  going  to  heaven ; 
but  I  cannot  leave  tlie  world  in  peace  unless  you  will 
make  me  two  promises.  My  house,  you  know,  has 
always  been  a  home  for  Methodist  preachers,  and 
the  first  thing  I  wish  you  to  promise  is,  that  it  shall 
always  continue  to  be  so,  and  that  you  will  take 
care  of  them  as  I  have  done.  Again,  my  house 
has  always  been  a  house  of  prayer,  and  I  cannot 
bear  to  think  that  family  prayer  shall  cease  to  be 
offered  in  it.  I  want  you  to  promise  that  after  I  am 
gone,  and  you  become  the  head  of  the  family,  you 
will  commence  family  prayer,  and  keep  it  up  regu- 
larly, as  I  have  done."  With  tears,  the  young  man 
pledged  himself  that  the  dying  request  of  his  father 
should  be  fulfilled;  and  the  old  man,  with  a  smile 
of  satisfaction  upon  his  countenance,  died  in  peace. 
The  son  immediately  commenced  family  prayer,  and 
in  a  few  days  both  he  and  his  wife  were  converted. 
The  house  continued,  as  before,  the  home  of  the  itin- 
erants ;  and  the  young  man  regarded  their  presence, 
as  his  father  had  before  him,  a  boon  and  a  blessing. 
"Wlien  the  bishop  saw  them,  the  young  man  and  his 
wife  were  happy  in  the  love  of  God.    "  What  a  ful- 


1828.] 


RESULTS   OF  SECESSIONS. 


367 


filment,"  he  remarks,  "  of  the  promise  made  to  Abra- 
ham : — '  I  know  that  he  will  command  his  children 
and  his  household  after  him.' " 

After  the  close  of  the  Canada  Conference,  Bishop 
Hedding  returned  by  way  of  Ogdensburgh,  Platts- 
burgh,  Middlebury,  Yt.,  and  thence  across  the  Green 
Mountains  home  to  Lynn. 

Thus  ended  another  year  of  toilsome  labour  in  the 
great  work  to  which  all  his  powers  were  consecrated. 
It  had  been  a  year  of  great  prosperity  in  the  Church, 
notwithstanding  some  portions  of  the  work  had  been 
greatly  distracted  by  the  radical  excitement  and  the 
secessions  produced  by  it.  But  how  little  the  Church 
at  large  was  affected  by  these  excitements  will  be 
apparent  from  the  fact  that  the  increase  for  the 
year  was  thirt^^-six  thousand  four  hundred  and  seven, 
making  a  total  membership  of  four  hundred  and 
eighteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-seven.* 
The  number  of  preachers  this  year  was  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  forty-two,  being  an  increase  of  sixty- 
six  for  the  year.  The  other  interests  of  the  Church 
had  also  proportionably  increased.  The  missionary 
cause  had  been  greatly  extended ;  new  churches  had 
been  erected;  new  societies  and  circuits  organized; 
and  the  cause  of  education  had  received  a  new  and 
powerful  impulse.    And  here  we  may  as  well  remark, 

^'  There  is  an  error  in  the  printed  Minutes  for  this  year,  making 
the  total  membership  four  hundred  and  twenty-one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  fifty-six,  or  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
more  than  it  should  be. 


368  LIFE   AXD   TIMES   OF   HEDDIXG.  [1828. 

that  each  year  clm-ing  the  excitement  connected  with 
the  organization  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Chm-ch, 
there  was  a  continued  and  large  increase  in  the  mem- 
bership of  the  old  Church.  For  instance,  in  1829, 
there  was  an  increase  of  twenty-nine  thousand  three 
hundred  and  five ;  in  1830,  an  increase  of  twenty- 
eight  thousand  four  hundi-ed  and  ten^ — even  after  de- 
ducting nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
for  the  Canada  Conference,  which  had  then  ceased  its 
ecclesiastical  connexion  with  us  ;  in  1831,  an  increase 
of  thirty-seven  thousand  one  hundi-ed  and  fourteen. 
The  same  is  tme  of  the  principal  cities  where  the 
refoiTuers were  most  numerous,  and  which  they 
made  the  centi-e  of  their  operations.  Omitting  the 
coloured  membei*5hip,  which  were  affected  but  httle 
either  way  by  the  movement,  the  following  table, 
taken  from  Bangs's  History,  exhibits  the  condition  of 
Methodism  in  these  several  cities  by  the  statistics  of 
its  white  members : — 


1827.  1S28.  1S29.  1830.  1831. 

New- York                     3,219  3,416  3,473  3,866  4,889 

Philadelphia                  3,633  3,882  4,440  4,678  4,859 

Baltimore                     3,631  3,886  4,119  4,295  5,059 

Pittsburgh                      737  655         676         630  700 

Cincinnati                       901  915         929  1,171  1,495 


12,121     12,754     13,637     14,640  17,002 

It  will  thus  be  perceived  that,  so  far  from  prevent- 
ing the  general  progi*ess  of  the  Chm-ch,  there  was, 
during  the  five  years  of  greatest  turmoil  and  excite- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  "  reformers,"  a  net  increase 
in  the  five  cities  where  theii'  greatest  power  was 


1829.] 


SERMON    ON  DANCING. 


369 


centred  of  fom-  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
one,  or  abnost  one  thousand  a  year.  How  strongly 
this  result  contrasts  with  the  heated  notions  of  men, 
when  carried  away  with  some  visionary  idea!  To 
read  over  the  denunciatory  and  prophetic  pleas  of 
some  of  these  men  as  they  now  stand  in  the  columns 
of  the  "Mutual  Rights,"  one  would  suppose  that, 
unless  the  General  Conference  yielded  to  what  was 
erroneously  called  "  the  voice  of  the  people,"  the 
Methodist  Church  would  be  rent  in  pieces,  and  would 
remain  only  as  an  old  and  deserted  hulk  stranded 
upon  the  shore.  How  widely  different  from  this  was 
the  result !  While  these  men  were  wasting  their 
energies  in  their  wild  crusade,  the  great  body  of  the 
ministei*s  went  steadily  forward  in  their  godHke  work 
of  preaching  Christ  crucified ;  sinners  were  converted, 
the  Church  was  edified,  and  Christians,  matured  for 
heaven,  crossed  the  flood  with  songs  of  joy,  and 
joined  the  host  of  the  redeemed  above. 

The  winter  of  1828-9  was  spent  by  Bishop  Hedding 
principally  at  home,  though  he  answered  repeated 
calls  to  visit  societies,  and  to  perform  special  services 
in  various  places  in  his  vicinity.  On  the  25th  of 
January  he  preached  a  sermon  on  dancing  in  the 
Lynn  Common  Church,  which  made  a  strong  impres- 
sion at  the  time  and  ehcited  much  remark. 

The  "  Lynn  Mirror,"  under  the  title  of  "  Bishop 
Hedding,"  thus  notices  this  discourse  :  "  On  Sabbath 
evening,  January  25th,  Bishop  Hedding,  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  according  to  previous  notice, 


370  LIFE   AND    TIME8    OF   HEDDING.  [1829. 

delivered  at  the  first  Methodist  raeeting-house  in  this 
town  a  verj  ingenious  and  interesting  sermon  on 
dancing :  text,  Eccl.  i,  1.  The  argument  of  the  dis- 
com-se  was  conducted  in  so  artM  a  manner  as  to 
carry  along  with  him  the  minds  of  the  audience,  and 
producing  none  of  that  revulsion  of  feehng  which  fre- 
quently arises  when  favourite  notions  are  attacked 
without  sufficient  remark  by  way  of  exordium.  The 
wound  shrinks  back  fi*om  the  rash  hand  of  the  sur- 
geon ;  the  muscles  of  the  dislocate  joint  are  rigid,  and 
require  to  be  softened  down  by  gentle  means  before 
they  will  suflfer  the  limb  to  be  reduced  to  its  proper 
place.  Tlius  it  happens  to  the  man  who  would  un- 
ceremoniously attack  our  prejudices  and  our  errors — 
the  precipitancy  of  the  operator  often  insures  defeat. 
The  preacher  evidently  intended  to  direct  the  chief 
force  of  his  battery  against  dancing,  but  chose  first  to 
make  himself  master  of  several  out-posts  before  he 
came  to  the  principal  engagement.  Tlie  excellence  of 
true  religion  was  set  forth  in  a  pleasing  light,  as  tend- 
ing to  create  the  highest  happiness,  even  in  this  world, 
without  depriving  its  possessor  of  a  single  innocent 
gratification.  Nevertheless,  the  passions  must  be  con- 
trolled, and  pleasure  abandoned,  when  they  dampen 
the  ardour  of  piety  and  break  all  distinction  between 
professed  Christians  and  the  mere  men  of  the  ivorld. 
After  showing  that  an  attendance  upon  theatres,  card- 
tables,  &c.,  was  not  calculated  to  increase  the  work 
of  grace  in  the  soul,  and  illustrating  his  arguments  by 
several  well-told  anecdotes,  he  proceeded  to  the  more 


1829.]        THE   PHYSIOLOGICAL    ARGUMENT.  371 

immediate  object  in  ^dew — dancing.  To  obviate  any 
argmnents  which  might  be  advanced  in  favour  of 
dancing  from  the  Scriptures,  it  was  remarked  that 
the  Hebrew  word  translated  dancing^  according  to 
some  of  the  best  critics,  should  be  rendered  jolaying 
upon  an  instrument^  or  piping.  At  all  events,  that 
this  exercise,  whatever  it  was,  evidently  must  have 
been  a  religious  act ;  and  if  the  dancing  of  the  present 
day  was  of  the  same  nature  as  the  dancing  of  David, 
then  balls  and  assemblies  should  be  held  on  the  Sab- 
bath as  a  rehgious  exercise. 

''The  disposition  of  the  argument  offered  hj physi- 
ologists in  favour  of  dancing,  namely,  that  it  tends  to 
promote  health,  we  think  must  have  made  a  forcible 
impression  upon  the  minds  even  of  the  friends  of  this 
amusement.  So  far  from  promoting  health,  the 
preacher  thought  that  overaction,  and  late  hours, 
and  artificial  stimulus,  would  have  a  contrary  effect ; 
but  if  othei-wise,  then  dances  should  not  be  held  once 
a  month,  but  every  night,  or  great  benefit  and  great 
cures  could  not  be  expected ;  and  facts  were  adverted 
to  in  proof  that  warm  ball-rooms,  excessive  action, 
thin  dresses,  and  the  midnight  air,  have  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  disease,  and  have  been  the  precursors  of 
many  a  premature  grave.  Upon  the  whole,  we  think 
the  numerous  assembly,  whatever  private  opinions 
had  previously  existed,  must  have  been  gratified  with 
the  adroitness  of  the  discourse  and  felt  the  force  of  its 
arguments,  and  at  the  same  time  been  pleased  with 
the  honest  intentions  of  the  speaker." 

16- 


372  LIFE    AND  TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1829. 

This  year  he  met  the  Philadelphia  Conference  at 
Philadelphia,  April  the  15th;  the  ISTew-York  at 
Troj,  May  15th.  From  Troy  he  crossed  the  coun- 
try to  Portsmouth,  Kew-Hampshire,  and  attended 
the  session  of  the  ISTew-England  Conference  on  the 
10th  of  June.  At  this  session  the  ^N'ew-Hampshire 
and  Yermont  Conference  was  formed — the  preceding 
General  Conference  having  left  the  division  to  be 
made  by  the  conference,  with  the  concun*ence  of  the 
bishop. 

During  the  three  years  preceding  this  there  had 
sprung  up  quite  a  strong  party  feeling  in  some  of  the 
conferences  in  respect  to  Freemasonry.  Already 
it  had  occasioned,  both  in  the  conferences  and  in 
some  Churches,  alienations  and  strifes  injurious  to  the 
cause  of  religion.  In  the  ]^ew-England  Conference 
the  excitement  had  reached  a  great  height.  Tlie  par- 
ties were  about  equally  divided,  and  embraced  many 
of  the  prominent  men  on  each  side.  When  the  con- 
ference commenced,  it  was  even  feared  that  the  agita- 
tion might  cause  a  formal  rupture  of  the  conference. 
Bishop  Hedding  apprehended  great  difficulty,  and, 
with  characteristic  zeal  and  prudence,  set  himself  to 
work  to  prevent  the  threatened  storm.  He  was  well 
qualified  for  such  a  work.  In  former  yeai-s  he  had 
been  a  mason,  but  for  some  time  had  ceased  to 
attend  their  meetings,  and  these  facts  being  known 
gave  him  influence  with  both  parties.  At  length  a 
large  meeting  of  the  principal  men  of  the  conference, 
embracing  the  leaders  on  both  sides  of  the  controversy, 


1829.1 


A   TOTK    OF  VISITATION. 


373 


was  intbnnally  held,  and,  after  mucli  discussion,  reso- 
lutions of  a  conciliatory  character  were  agreed  upon. 
Subsequently,  when  introduced  into  the  conference, 
they  were  carried  unanimously.  Thus  the  question 
was  so  fully  and  amicably  settled,  that  a  year  or  two 
afterward  it  had  nearly  ceased  to  be  agitated  among 
the  people. 

From  Portsmouth  he  proceeded  to  Gardiner, 
Maine,  where  he  met  the  Maine  Conference,  July 
9th.  This  was  the  last  conference  assigned  to  him 
for  the  year,  and  having  completed  his  labom-s 
here  he  returned  home ;  and  soon  after,  having  his 
wife  in  company,  he  commenced  a  tour  of  visitation 
to  the  Churches  in  Massachusetts,  I^'ew-Hampshire, 
Vermont,  and  part  of  the  State  of  Xew-York.  He 
had  before  him  a  large  number  of  appointments, 
extending  through  a  range  of  nearly  two  thousand 
miles,  and  requiring  some  three  or  four  months' 
travel.  This  labour,  however,  he  successfully  ac- 
complished, and  reached  his  home  near  the  close  of 
the  year. 

In  his  travels  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  he 
was  occasionally  the  subject  or  the  observer  of 
amusing  as  well  as  painful  incidents.  Those  who 
knew  him  are  aware  that  he  had  a  keen  perception 
and  enjoyment  of  the  ludicrous,  as  well  as  things  that 
were  grave ;  and  that  however  sudden,  or  strange,  or 
even  laughable,  any  event  might  be,  he  had  the  good 
sense  and  ready  wit  to  turn  it  to  proper  account,  and 
in  no  way  to  be  disconcerted  by  it.    During  this  last 


374  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1829. 

journey  an  incident  transpired  that  is  worthy  of  nar- 
ration from  the  lesson  to  be  derived  from  it, if  nothing 
more.  He  was  travelling  in  the  town  of  Chester, 
Yermont,  and  stopped  on  Friday  night  at  a  public 
house.  As  he  was  wearied  with  travelling,  he  de- 
sired to  spend  the  Sabbath  with  some  Methodist 
society  near  by,  and  inquired  of  his  host  if  there  were 
any  Methodists  in  the  place.  The  landlord  directed 
him  to  a  place  about  three  miles  off,  and  gave  him 
the  name  of  the  principal  man  in  the  society,  where 
he  thought  the  bishop  would  be  well  entertained, 
and  where  the  people  would  be  glad  to  have  him 
stay  and  preach.  Accordingly,  on  the  following 
morning  he  started,  and  toiled  up  the  hills  to  the 
house  of  this  "principal  man  in  the  society."  Leav- 
ing his  wife  in  his  carriage,  he  went  to  the  door,  and 
the  gentleman  himself  met  him.  The  bishop  stated 
that  he  was  a  Methodist  preacher  on  a  journey,  and 
would  like  to  stay  and  preach  among  them  if  there 
was  any  place  where  he  could  be  entertained. 
"  "Well,"  said  the  "  principal  man,"  "  I  want  first  to 
know  if  you  are  a  mason?"  "O!"  said  the  bishop, 
"that  is  a  question  I  don't  want  to  meddle  with; 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  excitement  about  it,  and  it  is 
no  matter  whether  I  am  or  not."  "Then,"  said  the 
man,  "  I  know  you  are  one ;  if  you  are  not,  you  would 
say  you  are  not.  We  don't  want  to  entertain  you,  or 
hear  you,  unless  we  know  you  are  not  a  mason." 
"  Well,"  said  the  bishop,  "  are  there  no  other  Meth- 
odists about  here  ?"    "  Yes,"  said  the  man,  "  there  is 


1829.]  A   WAYSIDE   INCIDENT.  375 

a  poor  widow  down  below,  but  she  can't  take  care  of 
you ;  she  has  enough  to  do  to  take  care  of  herself." 
"Well,  good-by,"  said  the  bishop.  He  thought  he 
would  drive  to  the  widow's  and  make  further  in- 
quiries. The  "poor  widow"  and  her  two  daughtei-s 
were  Methodists,  and  received  them  gladly.  They 
prepared  dinner  for  them,  and  then  sent  their  hired 
man  to  a  brother  a  short  distance  off.  He  came  and 
took  the  bishop  and  his  wife  home  with  him,  and 
entertained  them  kindly.  He  also  made  an  appoint- 
ment for  him  to  preach  in  the  school-house  the  morn- 
ing and  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  and  circulated 
it  through  all  the  neighbourhood.  The  people  came 
out  in  crowds;  even  the  strong  anti-mason  came, 
but  looked  quite  sullen.  The  bishop  preached  with 
unusual  unction  and  power,  and  made  a  very  strong 
impression.  After  meeting,  when  he  had  returned 
to  his  host's,  a  number  of  the  society  came  in  to  see 
and  converse  with  the  new  preacher.  While  they 
were  there,  one  of  the  number,  remembering  that 
Hedding  was  the  name  of  one  of  the  bishops,  cried 
out,  "  O,  it's  one  of  the  bishops!  it's  one  of  the 
bishops !"  This  discovery  produced  quite  a  com- 
motion, and  they  crowded  around  him  with  new 
interest.  He  says:  "I  enjoyed  my  visit  among  this 
people  very  much,  and  was  as  heartily  entertained 
as  I  ever  was  in  any  place,  and  was  perhaps  the 
means  of  doing  them  a  little  good."  When  the 
"principal  man  of  the  place"  learned  that  the  Meth- 
odist preacher  he  had  so  rudely  repulsed  from  his 


376  LIFE   AND    TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1829. 

door  was  none  other  tlian  a  bishop,  his  mortification 
was  extreme.  The  bishop,  having  enjoyed  the  hos- 
pitality and  brotherly  love  of  the  people  through  the 
Sabbath,  resumed  his  journey  early  Monday  morning, 
and  saw  them  no  more. 


1830.] 


SECOND  QUADRENNIAL. 


377 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

SECOND  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUES- CONCLUDED. 

Conferences  for  the  Spring  of  1830  —  Visits  the  Oneida  Indian  Mission  — 
Sermon  to  the  Indians  —  Journeys  Westward  —  Review  of  Labours  — 
A  Week's  Rest  —  Visit  to  Canada  —  Reaches  Home  after  Nine  Months* 
Absence  —  Summation  for  the  Year  —  Baltimore  Conference  in  1831  — 

—  A  "Located  Itinerant"  —  Submits  to  a  Surgical  Operation  —  Confer- 
ences attended  this  Spring  —  Leaves  Home  on  a  Western  and  South- 
ern Tour  —  Letter  to  his  Wife  —  Genesee  Conference  —  Christian  Hos- 
pitality vs.  Hospitality  to  Office  —  A  Cold  Reception  —  Quartered  among 
Apprentice  Boys  —  Pittsburgh  Conference  —  Journey  to  Mansfield,  Ohio 

—  Adventures  with  a  Preacher  who  had  "Time  enough  yet"  —  Meets 
the  Kentucky  Conference  at  Louisville  —  Journey  from  Louisville  to 
East  Tennessee  —  Reaches  Athens  —  Rebuke  of  a  Pompous  Young  Man 
— Holston  Conference  —  Visits  the  Cherokee  Nation  —  State  of  Society, 
&c.  —  Encounter  with  a  Watch-Dog  —  Travels  in  Georgia  —  A  Slave 
Auction  —  The  Georgia  Conference — South-Carolina  Conference  —  Con- 
versation with  a  Negro  on  the  Roanoke  —  Hospitality  of  a  Tavern- 
keeper —  Virginia  Conference  —  Philadelphia  Conference  —  Arrives  at 
the  Seat  of  the  General  Conference  —  Progress  of  the  Work  during  the 
Four  Years  —  Educational  Movement  —  Colleges  —  Seminaries  —  Mis- 
sions—  Among  the  Slaves  —  Liberia  — Indian  Missions  —  In  Canada  — 
At  Green  Bay  —  Rev.  John  Clark  —  The  Wyandots — Rev.  J.  B.  Finley 
— Visit  to  the  East  with  Indians  —  Choctaws  —  Cherokees  —  Death 
of  Ministers. 

The  opening  spring  finds  Bishop  Hedding  again  at 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  met  that  confer- 
ence on  the  14th  of  April.  On  his  return  to  New- 
York  he  wrote  to  his  wife,  under  date  of  April  30th, 
as  follows:  "I  have  just  returned  from  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference  in  tolerable  health:  had  plenty 
of  labour  and  care,  but  have  been  graciously  pre- 
served.   The  preachers  are  beginning  to  come  for 


378  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1830. 

conference.  They  have  liad  a  good  increase  (two 
thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty)  in  the  Philadelphia 
Conference,  and  the  Churches  generally  in  those 
regions  are  in  a  state  of  good  prosperity.  I  have  a 
great  care  and  responsibility  resting  upon  me  ;  many 
important  and  difficult  questions  to  decide — important 
in  relation  to  the  Chm'ch,  the  preachers,  their  famihes, 
&c. ;  but  I  make  it  my  constant  care  to  do  right.  Yet 
in  this  I  grieve  some  and  offend  others,  because  some 
who  are  interested  cannot  see  what  right  is.  I  hope 
so  to  conduct  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  in  others,  as 
to  be  able  to  render  an  account  to  the  Chief  Shep- 
herd. But  O  how  much  mercy  I  need  to  cover  ten 
thousand  failings !  many  of  which,  perhaps,  I  do  not 
see.    Lord,  help  me  !  Amen." 

The  session  of  the  New- York  Conference  com- 
menced May  6th,  and  at  its  close  Bishop  Hedding 
proceeded  to  Xew-Bedford,  where  he  met  the  'New- 
England  Conference,  May  20th.  Tlien,  visiting  home 
on  his  way,  he  proceeded  to  Portland  to  meet  the 
Maine  Conference,  which  assembled  on  the  9th  of 
June.  Thence  he  crossed  the  mountains  and  at- 
tended the  Xew-Hampshire  and  Vermont  Confer- 
ence, which  assembled  June  23d,  at  Barre,  Yer- 
mont.  Continuing  his  course  westward,  he  met  the 
Oneida  Conference,  at  Utica,  on  the  15th  of  July. 

After  the  close  of  the  Oneida  Conference  he 
visited  the  Oneida  Indian  Mission,  about  twenty 
miles  from  Utica.  The  Oneida  Indians  had  been 
settled  on  an  Indian  reservation  in  this  part  of  the 


1830.] 


ONEIDA    INDIAN  MISSION. 


379 


State  of  JSTew-York.  They  had  been  partly  civilized, 
and  some  of  them  were  cultivators  of  the  soil,  and  had 
adopted  the  habits  of  civilized  life.  The  Protestant 
Episcopal  Chnrch  had  established  a  mission  among 
them  several  years  before ;  but,  so  far  as  it  concerns 
religion  and  morals,  they  were  in  a  ti*uly  deplorable 
state.  Like  most  of  the  half-civilized  aborigines  that 
skirted  onr  states  and  territories,  they  were  debased 
by  habits  of  intemperance  and  other  degrading  vices. 
As  a  result  of  their  vices,  they  were  diminishing  in 
numbers,  and  becoming  more  and  more  impoverish- 
ed. While  they  were  in  this  condition  a  young  con- 
verted Mohawk  came  among  them,  impelled  by  his 
love  for  Christ  and  for  the  souls  of  men  to  make 
known  to  them  the  ministry  of  reconciliation.  Being 
able  to  speak  in  their  own  language,  he  unfolded 
to  them,  from  the  fulness  of  his  own  experience,  and 
with  a  heart  all  on  fire  with  the  love  of  God,  the  way 
of  salvation.  The  people  heard  him  gladly.  A  work 
of  grace  commenced  among  them,  and  upward  of 
one  hundred  were  soundly  converted.  These  stray 
lambs  in  the  wilderness  needed  tender  care  and  great 
watching.  A  missionary  was  sent  to  them ;  a  school 
was  established  for  the  education  of  their  children, 
and  also  for  the  adult  Indians  who  were  desirous  of 
learning.  This  Indian  mission  has  been  sustained  in 
the  Oneida  Conference  until  the  present  day,  and 
been  attended  with  the  best  of  results  to  the 
Indians.  Several  of  these  converted  Indians  emi- 
grated to  Green  Bay,  where  they  now  form  one  of 


380 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1830. 


the  most  interesting  and  successful  of  all  our  Indian 
missions. 

Bishop  Hedding  preached  to  the  Indians  through 
an  interpreter.  In  his  discourse  an  incident  occurred 
that  shows  how  difficult  it  often  is  to  translate  the 
strong  figurative  language  of  the  Bible.  He  had 
occasion  to  quote  the  text,  "He  led  captivity  cap- 
tive, and  gave  gifts  unto  men."  The  interpreter 
paused,  and  spoke  to  him  in  a  low  voice,  "  Captivity 
captive?  captivity  captive?  I  can't  interpret  that; 
I  don't  understand  it."  "Well,"  said  the  bishop,  as 
he  thought  of  the  strange  and  wonderful  imagery  of 
the  text,  "  if  you  can't  interpret  it  let  it  pass." 

After  his  visit  to  the  mission  he  proceeded  to 
Rochester,  where  the  Genesee  Conference  assembled 
July  29th.  At  this  point,  reviewing  his  labom-s,  he 
says ;  "At  the  close  of  the  Genesee  Conference  I  had 
attended  seven  conferences,  alone,  in  about  three 
months  and  a  half.  Several  of  them  were  large  con- 
ferences, that  required  at  least  nine  or  ten  days.  I 
had  travelled  most  of  the  way  with  horse  and  sulky, 
and  in  aU  my  travel  had  been  over  fourteen  hundred 
miles.  I  had  been  so  pressed  with  conference  busi- 
ness all  that  time,  that  I  had  often  not  half  as  much 
time  to  sleep  as  I  needed.  And  I  was  now  under  an 
engagement  to  go  to  the  Canada  Conference  to  ordain 
their  preachers,  by  a  request  of  that  conference,  and 
by  the  consent  of  the  General  Conference. 

To  meet  this  engagement,  from  Rochester  he  crossed 
Lake  Ontario  to  Canada.    Having  arrived  at  a  friend's 


1830.] 


A   week's  rest. 


381 


house  in  a  retired  place,  and  being  worn  down  by 
sncb  protracted  and  exhausting  labours,  lie  paused 
awhile  to  recruit  himself.  "  For  a  whole  week,"  says 
he,  "  I  devoted  myself  to  rest.  I  would  lie  down  at 
any  time  when  I  felt  sleepy,  whether  it  was  night  or 
day,  and  at  the  end  of  the  time  felt  much  recruited." 
He  then  proceeded,  visiting  the  Churches  where  he 
was  acquainted.  He  went  also  to  the  mission  station 
at  Grape  Island,  where  he  had  been  a  few  years 
before,  and  found  them  in  increasing  prosperity. 
Then  he  attended  the  Canada  Conference,  at  Kings- 
ton, not  as  its  president,  but  as  a  visitor  and  friend, 
and  ordained  the  preachers  that  were  elected  to  orders 
by  the  conference,  and  gave  them  certificates  appro- 
priate to  their  relation  to  the  Church  in  Canada. 
After  this  conference  he  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  a 
little  below  the  lake,  and  visited  Watertown.  Thence 
he  crossed  the  country  in  his  sulky  through  parts  of 
New- York,  Vermont,  and  Massachusetts,  to  his  home 
in  Lynn. 

He  reached  home  about  the  last  of  l^ovember, 
having  been  absent,  except  a  flying  visit  paid  while 
on  his  way  to  the  Maine  Conference,  nearly  nine 
months.  This  was  the  most  laborious  year  he  had  as 
yet  experienced  since  he  entered  the  episcopal  office. 
He  now  retired  into  "  winter-quarters." 

The  progress  of  the  work  during  the  year  was  of  a 
very  cheering  character.  The  total  membership  re- 
ported was  four  hundred  and  seventy-six  thousand 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three,  being  an  increase  of 


382  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1831. 

twentj-eiglit  thousand  four  hundred  and  ten;  or,  if 
we  add  nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy-eight, 
the  membership  of  the  Canada  Conference,  which 
was  dropped  from  the  record  this  year,  the  actual 
increase  was  thirty-seven  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
thirty-five.  The  number  of  travelling  preachers  re- 
ported was  one  thousand  nine  hundred,  showing  an 
increase  of  eighty-three. 

About  the  last  of  February  Bishop  Hedding  started 
on  his  episcopal  tour  for  1831.  At  the  request  of 
Bishop  Eoberts,  who  was  detained  by  sickness,  he 
met  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
March  16th.  The  business  of  the  conference  was 
transacted  in  great  harmony  and  with  great  despatch. 
Baltimore  had  been,  from  the  beginning,  one  of  the 
grand  radiating  centres  of  Methodism. 

Here,  however,  as  in  other  conferences,  there  were 
a  few  located  itinerants^  the  accommodation  of  whom 
seriously  embarrassed  the  work.  One  of  this  class, 
who  was  comparatively  a  young  man,  had  married  a 
rich  wife,  and,  in  addition  to  other  worldly  business, 
had  for  several  years  been  keeping  a  store.  To  accom- 
modate him,  he  had  been  appointed  to  the  neighbour- 
ing circuits,  till  there  was  no  circuit  in  all  that  region 
which  was  wilhng  to  receive  him  on  any  condition. 
He  was  this  year  appointed  to  a  circuit  quite  up  in  the 
spurs  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  When  the  ap- 
pointments were  read  out  in  conference,  the  brother 
threw  himself  upon  the  seat,  and,  to  the  great  amuse- 
ment of  the  conference,  roared  aloud,  "  My  German 


1831.] 


A   LOCATED  ITINERANT. 


383 


brethren  told  me  it  would  be  so !  Mj  German  breth- 
ren told  me  it  would  be  so !"  The  bishop,  without 
appearing  to  notice  the  ludicrous  exhibition,  closed 
the  conference  and  retired  to  his  lodgings.  While 
conversing  with  the  family,  a  coloured  boy  belonging 
to  the  house  came  rushing  into  the  room,  so  thoroughly 
frightened  as  to  make  a  grand  display  of  the  white 
of  his  eyes,  and  screamed  out,  "  O  bishop,  bishop, 
bishop !  go  up  stairs  quick,  quick,  quick !  there  is  a 
man  dying  up  in  your  room  !"  The  bishop,  followed 
•  by  members  of  the  family,  rushed  up  to  the  room. 
There  they  found  the  veritable  located  itinerant  on 
the  bed  upon  his  knees,  with  his  face  pushed  into  the 
clothes  as  far  as  possible,  still  bellowing  out,  ^'My 
German  brethren  told  me  it  would  be  so !"  Tlie 
bishop,  for  a  time,  hardly  knew  whether  to  yield  to 
the  provoking  or  the  ludicrous  asj)ects  of  the  case. 
He  at  length  made  the  brother  get  up,  then  point- 
ed out  to  him  the  impropriety  of  his  former  course 
as  a  minister,  chided  him  for  his  present  folly,  and 
wound  up  by  saying,  "JSTow  stop  this  bawling,  and 
go  to  your  appointment  and  labour  like  a  man."  He 
then  dismissed  him,  supposing  that  would  be  the  last 
he  would  hear  from  him.  But  a  fortnight  after  he 
came  to  see  the  bishop  in  Baltimore,  and  renewed  his 
complaint  and  sought  redress.  "But  bishop,"  said 
he,  "I  don't  blame  you,  I  don't  blame  you;  it  is  that 
Chris:  Frye,  my  presiding  elder.  And  now,  bishop, 
if  you  will  only  hear  him  and  me  preach  two  bouts 
of  twenty  sermons  each,  if  I  don't  beat  him  I'll  give 


384 


LIFE    AXD   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1831. 


up  !"  The  bisllop,  not  fancying  tlie  adjustment  of  the 
case  by  such  a  trial,  told  the  man  that,  so  far  as  he 
was  concerned,  he  could  not  in  conscience  change  his 
appointment,  and  told  him  to  go  to  it  and  labour  like 
a  man  of  God.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  when  the 
bishop  was  in  Lebanon,  Ohio,  he  was  one  day  called 
down  from  his  room  to  see  a  gentleman  who  had 
called  upon  him.  To  his  great  surprise,  he  found  he 
was  honoured  with  a  third  call  from  his  old  located 
itinerant  and  his  wife.  The  preacher  gave  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  himself:  "  I  went  to  that  circuit, 
and  could  find  no  house  fit  to  live  in,  and  no  place 
suitable  to  board  my  wife  ;  and  I  could  not  stay  there 
alone  so  far  away  from  home,  so  we  concluded  we 
would  take  a  journey  and  see  the  world."  The  next 
day  the  bishop  saw  them  leaving  the  place  with  a 
splendid  caniage  and  span  of  horses.  At  the  next 
session  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree  was  present,  and  delivered  an  address  before 
reading  the  appointments.  Among  other  things,  he 
said :  "  You  have  generally  good  circuits  in  this  con- 
ference. It  is  true  some  of  them  are  not  quite  so 
good  as  others ;  but,"  said  he,  looking  the  preacher 
who  had  travelled  to  see  the  world  right  in  the  eye, 
"  there  is  not  one  of  them  so  bad  that  it  need  make  a 
man  cryP 

Immediately  after  the  session  of  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, Bishop  Hedding  visited  the  city  of  Baltimore 
and  submitted  to  a  surgical  operation.  He  had  suffer- 
ed great  pain  and  inconvenience  fi-om  a  hemorrhoidal 


1831.]  STARTS  A   NEW   TOUR.  385 

tumor  for  ten  years.  Its  removal  was  a  painful  opera- 
tion, and  resulted  in  his  confinement  eiglit  or  ten  days ; 
but  in  the  end  relieved  him  of  great  suffering,  and 
effected  an  almost  entire  cure  of  a  painful  and  debili- 
tating disease. 

Before  he  had  fully  recovered  from  the  surgical 
operation,  he  was  compelled  to  resume  his  journey 
northward.  Tlie  Philadelphia  Conference  was  in  ses- 
sion when  he  reached  that  city,  having  been  opened 
by  Bishop  Soule  on  the  13th  of  April.  In  company 
they  travelled  to  Middletown,  Conn.,  and  met  the 
New- York  Conference  on  the  4th  of  May;  then  to 
Springfield,  Mass.,  and  met  the  New-England  Con- 
ference May  18th. 

After  the  New-England  Conference,  by  two  days' 
hard  travelling  he  was  enabled  to  reach  home,  where 
he  had  three  or  four  days  to  spend  with  his  family 
before  he  would  be  under  the  necessity  of  starting  on 
a  tour  to  visit  the  western  and  southern  conferences, 
which  would  require  a  long  absence.  These  few  days 
soon  glided  away,  and  we  soon  find  him  with  his  horse 
and  sulky  journeying  along  through  the  southern 
parts  of  New-Hampshire  and  Vermont,  into  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  of  New- York,  as  usual  attending 
camp-meetings,  and  meeting  special  appointments  by 
the  way. 

From  Lansingburgh  he  wi'ote  to  his  wife  under  date 
of  June  29th ;  and,  after  referring  to  the  long  journey 
and  many  exposures  that  were  before  him,  he  says : 
"  But  I  consider  God  governs  everywhere,  and  if  he 


386  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1831. 

sees  fit,  can  preserve  me  in  one  place  as  well  as  in 
another.  While  I  am  in  the  way  of  my  duty  I  feel 
safe,  for  I  know  that  my  Master  will  let  me  live  as 
long  as  he  sees  best.  Though,  if  it  were  the  will  of 
God,  I  should  much  rather  die  at  home  in  the  presence 
of  my  wife,  than  abroad  among  strangers ;  yet,  when- 
ever I  die,  I  hope  to  go  to  rest.  A  preparation  for 
this  solemn  event  is  my  daily  concern.  When  I  look 
at  my  imperfections,  and  compare  myself  with  God's 
holy  law,  I  am  ready  to  ask.  How  can  such  a  wretch 
get  to  heaven?  But  when  I  look  at  the  blood  of 
atonement,  and  hang  on  my  Saviour,  I  feel  that  I  have 
a  sure  foundation,  and  rest  in  a  firm  hope.  Whatever 
may  become  of  all  other  concerns,  O  let  us  strive  to 
enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  !" 

At  Le  Koy,  ^NT.  Y.,  in  conjunction  with  Bishop 
Soule,  he  met  the  Genesee  Conference  on  the  28th 
of  July.  On  the  third  day  of  the  session,  leaving 
Bishop  Soule  to  finish  the  business  of  the  conference, 
he  started  on  his  tour,  journeying  through  Bufi'alo, 
Fredonia,  Erie,  Pa.,  etc.,  to  meet  the  western  confer- 
ences. Before  leaving  Le  Boy  he  wrote  again  to  his 
wife  under  date  of  August  1st:  "The  Genesee  Con- 
ference has  been  in  session  three  days  besides  the 
Sabbath.  Bishop  Soule  is  here.  As  yet  I  get  no 
letter  from  Bishop  Boberts,  consequently  I  have  to 
go  to  the  Pittsburgh  Conference.  I  pm-pose  to  start 
this  day.  I  have  felt  more  affliction  about  being 
away  from  home  this  journey  than  ever  I  did  before, 
the  time  seems  so  long,  and  the  uncertainty  of  life  so 


1831.] 


A   COLD  RECEPTION. 


387 


great.  But  we  have  one  safe  way — to  commit  our 
lives  and  all  our  concerns  to  the  care  of  God;  he 
knows  what  is  best,  and  will  certainly  do  what  is  best. 
I  desire  jou  will  pray  for  me,  but  give  yourself  no 
distressing  anxiety  about  me;  I  feel  myself  safe  in 
the  hands  of  my  heavenly  Father." 

Bishop  Hedding  was  a  plain  and  humble  man. 
He  chose  only  to  be  known  as  a  Methodist  preacher. 
He  wore  the  garb,  travelled  in  the  style,  and  assumed 
the  character  of  a  Methodist  preacher.  Accordingly, 
when  he  stopped  lo  seek  lodgings  with  his  brethren, 
he  would  announce  himself  simply  as  a  Methodist 
preacher.  If  this  did  not  always  secure  him  as  cordial 
a  reception,  and  as  grand  an  entertainment,  as  if 
he  had  announced  himself  "  bishop "  instead  of 
'"•preacher,"  it,  at  least,  enabled  him  to  distinguish 
between  Christian  hospitality  and  hospitality  to 
office. 

While  on  this  journey  an  incident  illustrative  of 
this  occurred.  One  Saturday,  toward  noon,  he 
reached  a  manufacturing  village,  and  finding  both 
himself  and  his  horse  much  jaded,  he  concluded  to 
remain  over  the  Sabbath.  The  preacher  and  his  wife 
being  both  absent  from  the  parsonage,  he  went  to 
the  public-house  near  by.  After  dinner  he  inquired 
of  the  landlord  who  were  the  principal  men  among 
the  Methodists  in  the  place ;  intending  to  seek  the 
hospitality  of  some  one  of  them  rather  than  remain  at 
the  public-house  over  the  Sabbath.  The  landlord 
gave  him  the  name  and  pointed  out  the  residence  of 
17 


388 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1831. 


one,  wlio,  he  said,  was  tlie  principal  man  in  the 
Church,  and  also  in  the  village.  The  bishop  imme- 
diately walked  over  to  the  house,  and  made  known 
his  wish  to  the  lady.  Instead  of  giving  him  a  reply, 
she  sent  for  her  hnsband.  When  the  man  came  in 
he  introduced  himself  to  him  as  a  Methodist  preacher 
on  a  journey,  and  said,  that  as  he  knew  of  no  j^lace 
he  could  reach  before  the  Sabbath,  he  would  like  to 
pass  it  in  that  place  if  he  could  be  entertained.  The 
man  made  no  reply,  but  tm*ned  the  conversation  to 
some  other  subject.  After  waiting  a  reasonable  time, 
and  no  reply  being  made  to  his  request,  the  bishop 
took  his  hat,  and  said,  "  Good  afternoon,  sir,"  in- 
tending to  return  and  spend  the  Sabbath  at  the 
tavern.  The  man  then  said,  in  a  cold  and  heartless 
manner,  "I  guess  you'd  better  stay  here."  The 
bishop  replied,  that  he  would  like  to  stay,  if  it  would 
not  be  a  burden  to  him  or  his  family;  but  he  did 
not  like  to  make  himself  burdensome  anywhere. 
"  O,  you  can  stay,"  said  the  man,  with  the  same  cold, 
apathetic  indifference.  "  Well,"  said  the  bishop,  "  I 
have  a  horse  at  the  tavern ;  have  you  horse-keeping  ?" 
"  I  have  a  barn  and  hay,"  replied  the  man,  "  but  no 
grain."  The  bishop  then  said :  "  I  can  procure  grain 
at  the  tavern,  if  you  have  good  hay ;  but  if  your  hay 
is  not  good,  I  will  keep  him  there,  as  I  have  a  long 
journey  to  perform."  The  man  replied,  with  some 
little  irritability,  "  The  hay  is  good  enough  for  yom* 
horse." 

Upon  this  slender  prospect  of  hospitality  the  bishop 


1831.] 


INHOSPITABLE  RECEPTION. 


389 


went  to  the  tavern,  procnred  oats,  brought  them  in 
his  sulky,  and  put  out  his  horse,  and  took  care  of  him 
while  he  remained.  When  evening  came  his  host 
said  to  him — ^"  There  is  a  prayer-meeting  at  the 
meeting-honse :  yon  can  go,  if  you  please;  I  can't  go.'* 
The  bishop  went  to  the  prayer-meeting,  took  his  seat 
in  the  congregation,  and,  at  a  suitable  time,  prayed 
along  with  the  other  brethren.  After  the  meeting 
closed  he  returned  to  his  lodgings. 

The  house  of  his  host  was  large,  and  elegantly  fur- 
nished ;  but  at  the  hour  of  rest  they  sent  the  bishop 
to  a  small,  remote  chamber — ^far  from  being  clean. 
Here  he  had  three  apprentice  boys  for  his  companions 
— one  of  them  occupying  the  same  bed  with  himself. 

In  the  morning,  his  host,  in  a  half-inviting,  half- 
repelling  manner,  remarked  that  there  was  to  be  a 
love-feast,  and  inquired  if  he  would  go.  "  O,  yes, 
certainly,"  said  the  bishop.  Soon  after  he  had  taken 
his  seat  in  the  congregation,  the  preacher  came  in. 
He  observed  his  host  go  up  and  speak  to  the  preacher, 
when  both  turned  their  eyes  upon  him.  The  preacher 
had  seen  him  before,  and  instantly  recognised  him. 
A  flame  of  fire  seemed  to  overspread  the  face  of  his 
host,  as  he  slunk  away  to  a  seat.  At  the  request  of 
^  the  preacher  Bishop  Hedding  took  charge  of  the  love- 
feast,  and  then  preached  for  him.  He  also  engaged 
to  accompany  the  preacher  and  officiate  for  him  at 
his  afternoon  appointment — almost  glad  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  escape  from  his  host  at  this  juncture.  As 
soon  as  the  service  closed,  he  left  the  church  to  get 

m 


390  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1831. 

his  liorse.  His  host  soon  came  up  with  him,  took 
his  arm,  and — half-mad,  half-gracious,  and  quite  thor- 
oughly confased — said,  in  a  quick,  impatient  manner, 
"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  you  was  a  bishop  ?"  "  O," 
said  the  bishop,  "  I  am  a  plain  Methodist  preacher." 
Both  the  man  and  his  wife  seemed  completely  over- 
come with  mortification,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  the 
bishop  to  get  away. 

Perhaps  after  that  the  man  remembered  the  in- 
junction of  the  good  Book,  "  Be  careful  to  entertain 
strangers,  for  some  thereby  have  entertained  angels 
imawares."  At  all  events,  he  received  an  admonition 
upon  the  propriety  of  giving,  at  least,  a  decent  recep- 
tion and  entertainment  to  the  Methodist  preachers. 

Bishop  Hedding  met  the  Pittsburgh  Conference 
August  17th,  and  fi'om  thence  journeyed  to  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  where  he  met  the  Ohio  Conference,  Sep- 
tember 8th.  While  on  his  journey  to  Mansfield  he 
had  a  little  trial  of  his  patience.  Every  one  who 
knew  the  bishop  is  aware  of  the  promjjtness  and 
energy  of  his  action.  The  management  of  a  train 
upon  a  railroad  is  scarcely  more  systematic  as  to  the 
time  of  arrival  and  departure  from  the  different  points, 
than  were  the  movements  of  Bishop  Hedding  in  carry- 
ing out  his  arrangements.  On  one  occasion  on  this  ♦ 
journey  he  put  up  in  a  village  where  the  preacher 
was  to  leave  in  the  morning  for  conference,  and  they 
arranged  to  start  early  and  travel  in  company — the 
day's  journey  before  them  being  between  thirty  and 
forty  miles.    With  this  arrangement  the  bishop  was 


19 


1831.1 


"TIME   ENOUGH  YET." 


391 


well  pleased,  as  the  country  was  new  and  lie  was 
ignorant  of  the  way ;  and  accordingly  he  was  np  with 
the  lark  in  the  morning,  ate  his  breakfast,  and  had 
his  horse  fed  and  prepared  for  the  journey.  But  when 
he  came  to  the  preacher's  he  found  he  had  not  been 
to  breakfast;  and  upon  suggesting  the  necessity  of 
haste,  he  replied,  "  O,  there  is  time  enough  yet." 
At  length  the  preacher  lazily  got  up  his  horse,  when, 
lo !  one  shoa  was  off  and  another  loose ;  "  time  enough 
yet,"  said  he,  "  I  will  have  him  shod  before  I  start." 
To  the  great  annoyance  of  the  bishop,  and  to  the 
scandal  of  his  punctuality,  it  was  nine,  o'clock  before 
they  were  fairly  started  on  their  journey.  The 
preacher,  being  acquainted  with  the  road,  led  the 
way ;  but  he  drove  so  slowly  that  but  little  progress 
was  made  before  dinner.  After  dinner  the  bishop, 
having  inquired  the  way,  started  off  upon  a  brisk 
trot  and  continued  to  lead.  The  preacher  followed 
after,  but  there  being  a  flaw  in  one  of  his  axletrees 
that  he  had  neglected  to  have  repaired,  it  at  length 
broke  down,  and  an  hour  and  a  half  were  spent  in 
repairing  it.  ISTight  came  on  before  they  had  reached 
the  settlement  where  they  were  to  tarry,  and  in  the 
darkness  they  could  creep  only  at  a  snail's  pace. 
The  result  of  "time  enough  yet"  was,  that  they  did 
not  reach  their  stopping  place  till  eleven  o'clock  at 
night,  and  not  only  put  the  people  where  they  stayed 
to  an  inconvenience,  but  lost  the  opportunity  of  having 
a  good  night's  rest  for  themselves  and  their  horses. 
The  bishop  excused  himself  from  delaying  for  the 


392  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1831. 

brother,  as  liis  wagon  must  be  mended  before  he 
could  start,  and  was  off  in  the  morning  while  yet  his 
fellow-traveller  was  taking  his  rest.  The  second  day 
of  the  conference  "  time  enough  yet "  made  his  ap- 
pearance, having  just  arrived,  and  took  his  seat 
among  his  brethren.  How  the  laggard  ever  got  over 
the  Alleghanies,  and  how  he  could  keep  the  breath 
in  his  body  in  such  a  "  go-ahead  "  atmosphere,  was  a 
mystery  the  bishop's  philosophy  did  not  attempt  to 
unravel.  He  wrote  to  his  wife  from  Mansfield,  Sep- 
tember 11 :  "I  have  had  much  hard  toil  and  many 
bad  roads ;  but  the  Lord  in  mercy  has  preserved  me, 
so  that  no  evil  has  befallen  me.  It  is  more  healthy 
in  this  country  than  usual  at  this  season ;  yet  I  fre- 
quently see  people  shaking  with  the  ague.  They 
humorously  call  it,  '  taking  a  shake.'  Tliere  have 
been  great  revivals  of  religion  in  many  parts  through 
which  I  have  come — greater  than  any  I  have  ever 
seen  before.  I  am  about  eight  hundred  miles  from 
home,  and  have  travelled  about  one  thousand  miles 
to  get  here.  I  seem  to  myself  to  be  far  off,  but  a 
long  way  I  have  to  go  before  I  can  see  you  again. 
Though  I  have  sorrows,  and  afflictions,  and  toils,  yet 
I  have  many  comforts — the  greatest  of  all  my  com- 
forts is  found  in  the  love  and  service  of  my  God, 
and  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  place  in  heaven,  when  I 
go  from  this  world.  O  let  us  live  for  God  and  heaven, 
and  then,  through  the  merits  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour, 
we  shall  be  safe  and  happy,  let  what  will  befall  us 
here." 


1831.] 


KENTUCKY  CONFEKENCE. 


393 


In  a  postscript  to  this  letter  he  speaks  of  the  preach- 
ers being  as  fine  a  set  of  men  as  he  ever  saw,  nearly- 
one  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  and  that  the  increase 
for  the  year  in  the  conference  was  over  four  thou- 
sand.* 

From  Mansfield  he  travelled  in  his  sulky  to  Cin- 
cinnati ;  then,  finding  the  mud  deep  in  the  roads  and 
the  travelling  hard,  he  took  his  horse  and  carriage  on 
board  a  steamboat,  and  went  down  the  river  to  Louis- 
ville, which  was  the  seat  of  the  Kentucky  Conference 
that  year.  Being  a  few  weeks  in  advance  of  the 
conference,  he  crossed  the  river  into  Indiana,  and 
visited  several  of  the  Churches  in  that  part  of  the 
state.  He  had  expected  Bishop  Roberts  to  be  with 
him  at  the  Kentucky  Conference ;  but  in  this  he  was 
disappointed,  as  he  did  not  arrive  from  the  Indiana 
Conference,  on  account  of  his  feeble  health  and  the 
bad  roads,  till  just  after  the  former  conference  closed. 
The  conference,  which  commenced  October  13th, 
however,  passed  off  delightfully;  and  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  was  much  pleased  with  the  spirit  and  bearing  of 
both  preachers  and  people.  He  was  especially 
pleased  with  the  anti-slavery  feeling  that  so  mani- 
festly pervaded  the  conference.  That  body  then, 
though  in  a  slave  state,  refused  to  elect  local  preach- 
ers who  held  slaves  to  deacon's  or  elder's  orders. 

From  Louisville  he  travelled  through  Kentucky, 

"  The  exact  number  of  preachers  was  one  hundred  and  forty-eight, 
and  the  increase  was  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-three ; 
making  a  total  membership  of  forty-four  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  seventy-nine. 


394:  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1831. 

and  crossed  the  Cumberland  Mountains  into  East 
Tennessee.  In  crossing  these  mountains  he  was  ex- 
posed to  a  new  kind  of  danger.  Tliere  was  a  dis- 
tance of  -thirty  miles  where  the  country  was  unin- 
habited, only  as  it  was  roamed  over  by  wild  beasts 
and  hunters — the  latter  being  but  little  more  civilized 
than  the  Indians,  and  living  in  much  the  same  way. 
Tlie  brethren  of  the  Kentucky  Conference,  knowing 
the  difficulty  and  danger  of  the  way,  kindly  employed 
a  young  preacher  to  accompany  him.  This  young 
man  rode  on  horseback  and  led  the  way,  while  the 
bishop  followed  in  his  sulky.  They  made  every 
effort  to  get  through  by  daylight ;  but  night  closed  in 
upon  them  two  hours  before  they  reached  a  tavern. 
The  night  was  so  dark  that  none  but  an  experienced 
traveller  could  have  found  the  way;  and  the  road, 
which  was  so  rough  as  to  be  almost  impassible  by 
daylight,  was  now  doubly  dangerous  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night.  They  were,  however,  protected  by  a 
gracious  Providence,  and  reached  the  public-house 
beyond  the  mountains  in  safety.  The  landlord  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  that  they  had  got  through  with- 
out being  torn  to  pieces.  He  said  that  only  a  few 
days  before  a  panther  leaped  at  a  man  who  was 
armed  with  a  gun,  but  leaped  so  high  as  to  pass  over 
him ;  and  when  he  turned  to  attack  him  in  the  other 
direction,  the  man,  who  was  quick  with  his  gun,  shot 
him  dead. 

He  reached  Athens,  Tennessee,  where  the  Holston 
Conference  was  to  meet,  on  the  10th  of  ITovember. 


1831.]      A   SILENT   EEBUKE   ADMINISTERED.  395 


Being  some  days  in  advance  of  the  time,  he  sent  out 
several  appointments  which  he  filled  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. 

To  a  man  of  such  real  diffidence  and  trne  gentle- 
manly bearing  as  Bishop  Hedding,  any  appearance 
of  inflated  self-confidence  or  of  ill-mannerly  impu- 
dence in  a  Methodist  preacher  was  exceedingly  offen- 
sive. ISTo  man  knew  how  to  level  such  persons  with 
stem  and  cutting  rebuke,  or  to  wither  them  with  silent 
contempt,  better  than  Bishop  Hedding ;  and  no  man 
could  do  it  more  effectually.  One  evening  while  at 
Athens,  prior  to  the  session  of  the  conference,  as  he 
was  sitting  in  his  room  conversing  with  a  few  friends, 
a  young  preacher  came  in,  and  with  a  bold,  impudent 
air  stmtted  up  before  the  bishop,  at  the  same  time 
brushing  up  his  hair  with  one  hand,  and  then  thi-ust- 
ing  both  into  his  pantaloon's  pockets.  "Sir,"  said 
he,  "I  understand  you  have  an  appointment  to  preach 

at  brother  B  's  to-morrow  night.    Is  it  so  ?"  The 

bishop  replied  that  he  had  an  appointment  there. 
"  Well,  then,"  said  the  young  man,  "  I  believe  I  shall 
go  out  and  hear  you,  and  see  if  you  can  preach  any." 
The  bishop  regarded  the  young  man  for  a  moment 
with  a  commiserating  expression  that  told  in  its 
effect,  and  then  turned  away  without  replying  a 
word,  and  resumed  his  conversation  with  his  friends. 
He  made  no  farther  allusion  to  the  subject,  and  took 
no  further  notice  of  the  young  man,  who  awkwardly 
retreated  from  his  prominent  position.  The  pointed 
and  deserved  rebuke  was  richly  enjoyed  by  the  spec- 
17^ 


396  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   BEDDING.  [1831. 

tators,  and  keenly  felt  by  the  yonng  man.  His  per- 
ceptions however  were  not  remarkably  keen  in  those 
respects,  nor  were  his  sensibilities  remarkably  refined. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  discovered  that  he  was  alto- 
gether too  great  a  man  to  be  a  Methodist  preacher, 
especially  as  something  always  intervened  to  prevent 
his  taking  the  position  among  his  brethren  to  which, 
in  his  own  judgment,  he  was  fairly  entitled.  Accord- 
ingly he  located,  and  became  a  political  stump  orator, 
and  the  editor  of  a  political  paper.  He  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  elected  to  Congress ;  but  still  failed 
to  convince  the  country  that  he  was  either  a  strong  or 
wise  man. 

After  the  Holston  Conference,  Bishop  Hedding 
crossed  the  Hiawassee  River  into  the  Cherokee  coun- 
try, where  he  visited  the  Indians,  preaching  to  them 
in  different  places,  and  travelling  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  miles  in  their  nation.  Thence  he  crossed  the 
Chattohoochee  River,  and  came  out  into  the  white 
settlements.  Tlie  brethren  of  the  Holston  Conference 
were  not  to  be  outdone  by  those  of  Kentucky  in  their 
kindness  to  the  bishop.  They  also  sent  a  young  man 
to  escort  him  in  all  his  travels  in  the  Cherokee  country. 
At  this  time  he  writes :  "  Since  leaving  home  I  have 
travelled  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
with  my  horse  and  sulky.  The  roads  have  been  bad 
and  the  travelling  difficult.  Indeed,  most  of  the  way 
it  has  been  mud  and  mire,  alternating  with  stumps, 
and  trees,  and  stones.  I  met  with  few  bridges  or 
ferry-boats,  so  that  I  had  to  ford  most  of  the  streams. 


1831.] 


TRAVELS    IN    THE  SOUTH. 


397 


But  my  labours  and  cares  have  been  much  lightened  by 
the  gi^eat  kindness  of  the  people.  A  more  friendly, 
pleasant,  and  hospitable  people  I  have  never  met." 

From  Athens,  Georgia,  under  date  of  December 
12,  he  wrote  to  his  wife:  Through  the  mercy  of 
God  I  still  live,  and  enjoy  a  comfortable  state  of 
health.  Since  I  wrote  you  last,  from  the  seat  of  the 
Tennessee  Conference,  I  have  travelled  about  two 
hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  have  yet  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  to  travel  to  the  Georgia  Conference. 
I  do  not  always  take  the  most  direct  route  ;  but  fre- 
quently diverge  from  the  straight  course  to  attend 
quarterly  meetings,  four-day  meetings,  and  to  ordain 
local  preachers.  Since  the  first  of  August  I  have 
been  in  the  new  count/ries ;  and,  except  in  the  few 
cities  and  towns,  (villages,)  have  struggled  with  various 
difficulties.  The  want  of  the  comforts  and  conveni- 
ences of  life,  though  they  seem  to  be  lightly  regarded 
by  those  who  have  never  had  them,  is  to  me  a  serious 
inconvenience.  If  my  friends  at  Lynn  knew  what  I 
have  passed  through,  they  would  wonder  that  I  am  yet 
alive.  For  four  hundred  miles  back  I  have  seen  but 
few  country  houses  (I  mean  except  in  villages)  which 
had  a  glass  window  in  them.  A  farmer  will  have 
large  droves  of  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  and  even  ne- 
groes, and  not  a  single  pane  of  glass  in  his  house. 
The  windows  are  closed  with  board  shutters;  and 
consequently  the  windows  or  doors,  or  both,  must  be 
kept  open  in  the  coldest  weather  in  order  to  have 
light  in  the  dwelling,    l^ot  unfrequently  we  have 


398  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1831. 

four  beds  in  the  same  room,  occupied  with  quite  a 
variety  of  sleepei-s.  Other  things  are  on  much  the 
same  scale  ;  but  the  kindness  of  the  people  is  such  that 
it  makes  up  for  other  deficiencies.  I  am  now  getting 
into  an  older  settled  country,  and  have  bidden  fare- 
well for  the  present  to  the  scenes  of  frontier  life." 
The  bishop  was  evidently  too  plain  and  practical  a 
man  to  enjoy  the  scenes  of  "frontier  life"  that  he 
was  called  to  witness.  To  many,  such  a  jaunt  would 
have  been  an  era  in  their  lives — storing  their  minds 
with  a  thousand  images  of  the  exciting,  the  novel, 
and  the  grand.  But  the  bishop  had  already  travelled 
too  long  and  suffered  too  much  to  be  smitten  with  the 
poetry  of  adventure ;  with  him  it  was  a  plain  prosaic 
affair. 

Through  all  this  region  each  family  had  one  or 
more  savage  dogs,  which  were  companions  of  the  men 
when  out  on  their  hunting  excursions,  and  general 
sentinels  at  home  in  the  night.  Tliey  were  usually 
chained  in  the  daytime,  but  set  loose  at  night.  One 
evening,  as  the  bishop  had  been  walking  in  the  fields 
for  meditation,  and  was  returning  to  the  house,  he 
encountered  one  of  these  ferocious  dogs  that  did  not 
recognise  his  right  to  be  there.  He  was  without  any 
means  of  defence,  and  none  were  accessible.  He, 
however,  held  the  dog  at  bay  with  his  eye  for  a  whole 
hour ;  when  a  member  of  the  family  discovered  the 
predicament  he  was  in,  and  came  to  his  relief. 

In  this  part  of  Georgia  he  travelled  extensively, 
visited  many  places,  and  ordained  quite  a  number  of 


1832.] 


A  SLAVE-AUCTIOX. 


399 


local  preachers.  Tlie  recommendation  of  the  quar- 
terly meeting  and  the  approbation  of  the  yearly  con- 
ference for  the  ordination  of  local  preachei*s  to  deacon 
or  elder's  orders  having  been  obtained,  at  this  day, 
they  were  often  ordained  in  the  interim  of  the  annual 
conferences,  as  the  bishop  progressed  in  his  rounds 
among  the  people.  This  was  the  work  that  mainly 
occupied  him  during  the  month  of  December.  About 
the  first  of  January,  1832,  he  reached  Augusta,  which 
was  to  be  the  seat  of  the  Georgia  Conference. 

While  waiting  here,  he  rode  out  one  day  into  the 
country ;  and  on  his  return,  hearing  a  loud  noise  he 
followed  its  direction,  and  soon  came  to  the  market- 
place, where  a  lot  of  slaves  were  being  sold  at  auction. 
There  was  a  great  gathering  of  the  people,  and  the 
auction  had  already  commenced.  The  slaves,  of 
whom  there  appeared  to  be  a  large  number,  had  been 
the  property  of  a  planter  lately  deceased,  and  whose 
estate,  after  his  death,  was  found  to  be  insolvent. 
The  bishop  rode  up  as  near  as  he  could  approach  in 
his  sulky,  and  for  some  time  witnessed  the  scene. 
Husbands  and  wives  who  had  grown  old  together, 
parents  and  children,  brothers  and  sisters,  were  here 
severed  fi*om  each  other,  probably  forever.  The  most 
affecting  scene  of  aU  was  the  separation  of  a  mother 
from  two  interesting  little  children.  It  was  a  scene 
such  as  his  eyes  never  witnessed  before  ;  and  it  moved 
his  whole  soul  from  its  very  depths.  Just  then  he 
saw  in  the  crowd  a  man  from  the  East,  whom  he  had 
known  in  Boston.    ^Motioning  to  the  man,  he  came 


400  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1832. 

up  to  him,  as  did  also  several  members  of  the  Church 
in  Augusta  who  knew  the  bishop.  Pointing  to  a 
female  who  was  upon  the  auctioneer's  stand  for  sale, 
the  bishop  said  to  his  friend,  "Don't  that  make  your 
Yankee  blood  boil?"  '^Yes^  sik!"  responded  the 
man,  with  great  emphasis.  A  few  days  after,  one 
of  the  preachers  came  to  the  bishop,  and  told  him 
that  his  conversation  with  the  gentleman  from  Boston 
had  been  reported,  and  had  occasioned  great  excite- 
ment in  the  town,  and  advised  him  to  be  careful 
what  he  said  upon  that  subject.  The  bishop  did  not 
consider  it  unwise  to  follow  the  counsels  of  his  brother 
preacher ;  but  he  did  not  hesitate,  to  the  end  of  his 
life,  to  speak  of  that  as  one  of  the  most  revolting 
scenes  he  had  ever  been  called  to  witness. 

The  Georgia  Conference  opened  on  the  5th  of  Jan- 
uary, and  the  business  proceeded  with  unusual  des- 
patch and  harmony.  "  Tliey  were,"  says  the  bishop, 
"  a  lovely  body  of  men,  and  many  of  them  able  min- 
isters of  the  New  Testament."  Among  the  strong 
men  of  the  conference  at  this  time  were  Stephen  Olin, 
then  supernumerary,  and  a  professor  in  Franklin  Col- 
lege ;  James  O.  Andrew,  elected  a  few  months  later 
a  bishop  in  the  Church ;  and  George  F.  Pierce,  then 
in  the  second  year  of  his  ministry,  but  twenty-two 
years  later  elected  bishop  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South.  The  membership  of  the  conference, 
including  coloured,  was  thirty-one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  seventy-one ;  and  the  increase  for  the  year 
was  four  thousand  and  nineteen. 


1832.] 


JOURNEY  NORTHWARD. 


401 


From  Augusta  Bishop  Hedding  travelled  to  Dar- 
lington, South  Carolina,  where  he  met  the  South 
Carolina  Conference  on  the  26th  of  January.  He 
says  of  them,  "  A  very  agreeable  body  of  preachers, 
— enterprising,  devoted,  and  true-hearted."  From 
this  place  he  passed  on  northward  to  JSTorfolk,  Vir- 
ginia, where  the  Virginia  Conference  assembled, 
February  23d. 

While  on  his  journey  through  North  Carolina,  he 
had  occasion  to  cross  the  Roanoke  River.  He  was 
ferried  over  by  a  slave  who  had  charge  of  the  ferry- 
boat. He  was  a  large  and  noble-looking  fellow,  and 
withal  exceedingly  talkative.  'No  sooner  had  they  left 
the  bank  than  he  began  to  interrogate  his  solitary 
passenger: — "Massa,  where  you  going  to?"  The 
bishop  said,  "  I  am  going  to  Massachusetts."  "  Why, 
massa,  so  far  otf  from  home?  Why,  massa,  where  you 
been  ?"  "  O  !"  said  the  bishop,  "  I  have  been  down 
through  Tennessee,  and  through  the  Cherokee  nation 
of  Indians,  and  through  Georgia  and  South  Carolina." 
"  O,  massa,  massa !  what  for  could  you  be  away  over 
all  that  country  so  far  from  home  for  ?"  "  I  have  been 
preaching  the  gospel,"  said  the  bishop.  "  Ah,  massa, 
that  be  a  good  business !  Now  I  thought  you  were  a 
minister,  judge,  or  speculator,"  (that  is,  slave-trader.) 
"Speculators  once  used  to  come  along  dressed  like 
dandies ;  but  they  got  afraid  we  negroes  would  kill 
them.  So  now  they  dress  like  ministers  or  judges,  so 
nobody  would  suspect  them  to  be  speculators."  The 
coloured  man  seemed  delighted  to  discover  that  the 


402 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDIXG.  [1832. 


bishop  was  a  real  minister,  and  not  a  "  speculator," 
— the  grand  terror  of  all  his  race. 

The  day  he  crossed  the  Roanoke  he  had  an  instance 
of  hospitality  to  the  minister^  when  the  bishop  was 
unknown.  That  day  he  travelled  along  the  river  for 
about  forty  miles,  and  during  the  whole  route  was 
unable  to  obtain  any  food  for  himself  or  his  horse. 
Just  at  night-fall  he  came  to  a  public-house.  He 
found  himself  entirely  exhausted,  and  giving  his  horse 
in  care  to  the  hostler,  he  made  his  way  with  difficulty 
into  the  house.  The  landlord,  a  very  gentlemanly 
man,  observing  his  condition,  asked  liim  if  he  would 
not  take  a  glass  of  brandy  and  water.  The  bishop 
replied  that  he  was  a  minister,  and  did  not  drink 
brandy. 

"You  a  minister!"  said  the  landlord;  ''of  what 
denomination  ?" 

"  I  am  a  Methodist  minister." 

"A  Methodist  minister?"  said  he;  "my  wife  is 
half  a  Methodist." 

Then  running  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  he  cried  out, 
"  "Wife  !  wife !  come  down  quick.  Here  is  a  Metho- 
dist preacher." 

She  dropj)ed  her  work,  and  came  running  down 
stairs  as  if  she  were  hurrying  to  meet  a  father.  Then 
both  she  and  her  husband  welcomed  him  to  their 
house ;  the  best  room  was  allotted  to  him,  and  the 
best  entertainment  that  the  place  afforded  provided. 
Subsequently,  when  they  learned  who  he  was,  they 
expressed  the  greatest  pleasure  at  seeing  him ;  and  by 


1832.]     END   OF  THE   SECOND   QUADEENNIAL.  403 

their  urgent  persuasions,  he  was  induced  to  remain 
two  or  three  days  with  them  to  recruit  his  exhausted 
energies  before  he  resumed  his  journey. 

At  Norfolk,  Bishop  Hedding  sold  the  horse  and 
sulky  with  which  he  had  made  the  circuit  of  almost 
the  entire  country,  and  took  public  conveyance  to 
Baltimore,  where  he  met  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
March  14:th.  From  thence  he  proceeded  to  Wil- 
mington, Del.,  and  presided  over  the  Philadelphia 
Conference,  which  commenced  on  the  11th  of  April ; 
then  continued  his  journey  to  Philadelphia  to  meet 
his  colleagues  preparatory  to  the  General  Conference, 
which  was  to  assemble  in  that  city  on  the  1st  of  May. 

Thus  are  we  brought  to  the  end  of  the  second  quad- 
rennial of  the  bishop's  labours  in  the  episcopal  office. 
Let  us  take  a  brief  glance  at  the  progress  of  the  work 
dm-ing  this  period.  Taking  the  summation  at  the  close 
of  this  year  as  the  basis  of  our  calculation,  and  com- 
paring it  with  the  returns  four  years  before,  we  find 
that  the  membership  of  the  Church  had  gone  up  from 
four  hundred  and  twenty-one  thousand  one  hundred 
and  twenty-six  to  five  hundred  and  forty-eight  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  ninety-three,  making  a  total 
increase  of  one  himdred  and  twenty-seven  thousand 
four  hundred  and  sixty-seven.  During  the  same 
period  the  number  of  travelling  preachers  had  in- 
creased from  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty-two 
to  two  thousand  two  hundred,  making  an  increase  of 
five  hundred  and  fifty-eight.  In  the  above  member- 
ship are  included  seventy-eight  thousand  eight  hun- 


404 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDIKG. 


[1832. 


dred  and  seventeen  coloured  members,  principally  in 
the  South,  and  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  twelve 
Indians,  connected  with  the  different  mission  stations. 

The  educational  system  of  the  Church  was  now 
receiving  an  auspicious  development.  The  Wesleyan 
University  had  been  established  at  Middletown,  Conn., 
and  Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk,  of  the  Xew-England  Conference, 
was  at  its  head,  and  John  M.  Smith,  of  the  Xew-York 
Conference,  one  of  the  professors.  Madison  College — 
now  extinct,  but  whose  place  has  since  been  supplied 
by  Alleghany  College — had  gone  into  successful  oper- 
ation in  Western  Pennsylvania;  J.  H.  Fielding  had 
succeed  H.  B.  Bascom  as  president,  and  H.  J.  Clark 
was  one  of  the  professors  ;  both  were  members  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Conference.  Augusta  College  had  been 
established  under  the  patronage  of  the  Kentucky  and 
Ohio  Conferences ;  Martin  Buter  was  president,  and 
H.  B.  Bascom,  J.  S.  Tomlinson,  J.  P.  Durbin,  and 
Burr  H.  M'Cown,  were  professors ;  all  of  them  mem- 
bers of  the  Kentucky  Conference  except  J.  P.  Durbin, 
who  belonged  to  the  Ohio.  In  the  southwest,  La- 
grange College  had  been  established ;  Robert  Paine 
was  president,  and  E.  D.  Simms  one  of  the  professors. 
In  Yirginia,  Randolph  Macon  College  had  been  estab- 
lished, and  M.  P.  Parks,  of  the  Yirginia  Conference, 
was  one  of  its  professors,  and  Stephen  Olin  was  soon 
after  placed  at  its  head.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  no 
less  thanjwe  colleges  had  sprimg  into  existence  in  an 
incredibly  short  time,  and  were  already  in  successful 
operation  under  the  supervision  of  the  Church.  Sev- 


1832.]  EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  405 

eral  conference  seminaries  also  had  been  established ; 
such  were  Cazenovia  Seminary,  the  Maine  Wesleyan 
Seminary,  Wilbraham  Academy,  Genesee  Wesleyan 
Seminary,  Shelbyville  Female  Academy,  and  others, 
which  were  in  successful  operation  in  different  parts 
of  the  Church.  These  institutions,  then  in  their  in- 
fancy, have  from  that  time  forward  exerted  a 
powerful  influence  in  developing  the  intellectual  and 
moral  resources  of  our  people.  Up  to  this  time  the 
Methodist  Church  had  been  frequently  charged  with 
opposition  to  education;  but  the  true  state  of  the 
case  was,  that  at  first  she  had  everything  to  do — ■ 
societies  to  found,  churches  to  build,  her  Book  Con- 
cern to  establish,  and  all  the  essentials  of  organized 
churches  to  obtain,  while  at  the  same  time  she  was, 
of  course,  greatly  deficient  in  resources.  It  was, 
therefore,  natural  that  the  wants  first  felt,  and  felt  to 
be  most  pressing,  should  receive  first  attention.  To 
one  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances,  the  wonder 
will  be  rather  that  she  so  soon  and  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  estabhshing  and  endowing  sem- 
inaries and  colleges  for  the  education  of  her  people. 

The  missionary  work  had  also  greatly  advanced  in 
the  Church.  Great  good  had  been  accomplished  by 
the  missions  established  in  several  places  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  people  of  colour  in  the  South,  and  here  an 
interesting  and  inviting  field  for  missionary  enterprise 
was  opened  to  the  Church.  The  settlement  of  free 
coloured  pei-sons,  efiected  by  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society  at  Liberia,  in  Western  Africa,  had  for 


406  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1832. 


several  years  attracted  the  attention  of  the  mission- 
ary board  and  of  the  authorities  of  the  Church ;  but 
only  this  year  had  the  way  been  opened  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  mission  there,  and  Melville  B.  Cox,  a 
native  of  the  State  of  Maine,  but  at  that  time  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  was  appointed  to 
superintend  it.  Mr.  Cox  was  one  of  the  noblest  mis- 
sionaries ever  sent  into  the  foreign  field ;  and  though 
his  career  as  a  missionary  was  brief,  yet  in  that  short 
time  he  laid  the  broad  and  sure  foundations  of  a  noble 
work,  and  his  name  will  forever  be  associated  with 
Africa's  redemption.  He  died  at  his  post,  a  martyr 
to  his  work,  exclaiming,  "  Though  thousands  fall,  let 
not  Africa  he  given  ujp  P''  But  perhaps  the  most  in- 
teresting of  the  missions  then  under  the  care  of  the 
Church  were  those  established  among  the  Indians. 
We  have  already  noticed  the  Indian  missions  in 
Canada.  In  1831,  when  they  were  transferred  to  the 
superintendence  of  the  Wesleyan  Conference  in  Eng- 
land, there  were  no  less  than  ten  mission  stations 
among  the  various  tribes  in  that  country,  and  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  adult  Indians  under 
religious  instruction,  a  large  proportion  of  whom  were 
members  of  the  Church.  "We  have  also  mentioned 
the  introduction  of  the  gospel  among  the  Oneida 
Indians,  and  the  establishment  and  progress  of  the 
mission  among  them.  Some  of  this  tribe  had  emi- 
grated to  Green  Bay,  and  several  of  the  converted 
Indians  were  of  the  number.  When  settled,  they 
desired  to  have  a  missionary  sent  out  to  them,  and 


1832.] 


INDIAN  MISSIONS. 


407 


Mr.  Schoolcraft,  who  resided  there  in  the  capacity  of 
Indian  Agent,  favoured  their  wishes.  Accordingly 
the  Rev.  John  Clark  was  sent  out  to  labour  among 
them.  He  was  not  only  a  man  of  sterling  integrity 
and  purity  of  character,  but  he  also  possessed  an  in- 
domitable energy  and  perseverance,  and  laid  the 
foundations  of  a  work  in  that  region  which  has  not 
ceased  to  produce  grateful  results  to  the  present  day. 
He  was  the  intimate  and  personal  friend  of  Hedding, 
and  has  recently  been  suddenly  called  to  join  him  in 
the  land  of  rest.*  The  writer  witnessed  a  delightful 
interview  between  these  two  men  a  short  time  before 
the  death  of  Hedding.  The  mission  to  the  Wyandot 
Indians  had  been  in  successful  operation  for  several 
years,  and  now  numbered  two  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  converted  Indians  as  members.  A  short  time 
previous,  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  who  had  long  laboured 
among  them  with  eminent  success,  visited  the  eastern 
cities  in  company  with  several  of  the  converted 
chiefs,  some  of  whom  had  become  local  preachere 
and  class-leaders,  and  by  this  means  excited  a  very 
general  interest  in  behalf  of  the  Indian  missions. 
Equally  successful  had  been  the  Indian  missions  in 
the  South,  some  of  which  were  visited  by  Bishop  Hed- 
ding during  his  last  episcopal  tour.  Among  the 
Choctaws  there  were  one  thousand  three  hundred 
and  twelve  Church-members,  embracing  many  of  the 
chief  men  of  the  nation.    In  the  Cherokee  nation 

He  died  of  an  attack  of  Asiatic  cholera,  near  Chicago,  about  the 
middle  of  July,  18.54. 


408 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1832, 


there  were  seventeen  missionaries,  including  inter- 
preters, and  eight  hundred  and  fifty  Church-mem- 
bers. Several  other  Indian  missions  had  been  at- 
tempted with  various  success. 

During  these  four  years  also  death  had  been  busily 
at  work.  God  had  been  gathering  home  the  ripened 
fruits  to  himself.  ISTo  less  than  fifty-five  preachers 
had  fallen.  Bishop  George  died  shouting,  "  Glory  to 
God !"  Samuel  GaiTard,  saying,  "  I  have  had  my  fail- 
ings and  imperfections  in  common  with  other  men ; 
but  my  trust  is  reposed  in  Christ  alone,  who  died  for 
me — by  whose  stripes  I  am  healed:"  Robert  Min- 
shall,  exclaiming,  "  I  have  been  a  travelling  man,  my 
lot  is  in  heaven.  Glory,  glory,  forever  and  ever!" 
William  H.  Chapman,  shouting,  "  Glory !  glory !" 
Samuel  Doughty,  testifying,  "  Death  has  no  terrors 
Thomas  Everard,  exclaiming,  "All  is  well!"  JS'a- 
thaniel  P.  Deveraux,  repeating, — 

"  I  YiiW  not  let  thee  go 
Till  all  I  have  is  lost  in  thee, 
And  all  renewed  I  am 

John  Fisk,  when  language  failed,  "  making  signs  to 
his  friends  that  all  was  well :"  Henry  Holmes,  saying, 
"  Yesterday  I  examined  myself  closely,  and  I  saw  my 
way  before  me  as  clearly  as  the  rising  sun :"  Christo- 
pher Thomas,  exclaiming,  "  Perfectly  haj^py ;  death 
is  my  friend;  I  live  in  Christ,  and  Christ  is  all  to  me !" 
(laying  his  hands  upon  his  breast,)  "  I  have  all  I  de- 
sire; Glory,  hallelujah!"  Simon  L.  Booker,  saying, 


1832.] 


DEATH-BED  TESTIMONIES. 


409 


"  I  want  a  conductor  to  heaven !"  and  pausing  for  a 
monaent,  he  broke  out,  "  I  have  one — a  sublime  one !" 
Moses  Amedon,  saying,  Willing,  willing,  willing!" 
Coleman  Harwell,  exclaiming,  "llTow,  Lord,  lettest 
thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace!"  WilUam  M.  Smith, 
crying  out,  "  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave, 
where  is  thy  victory  ?"  Wesley  Deskin,  shouting, 
"Victory,  victory!"  Peter  F.  Baker,  testifying,  "I 
know  in  whom  I  have  believed :"  Edwin  Ray,  wit- 
nessing, "The  religion  which  I  have  professed  and 
preached  has  comforted  me  in  life,  supported  me  in 
affliction,  and  now  enables  me  to  triumph  in  death ;" 
and  Ralph  Lawning,  exclaiming,  "I  am  happy — 
praise  the  Lord !"  Of  the  others,  who  were  rational 
in  their  last  moments,  it  is  said  that  they  "died  in 
peace^ — 'in  great  peace;"  "his  end  was  peaceful  and 
glorious ;"  "  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith ;"  "  with  a 
bright  prospect  of  eternal  blessedness ;"  "  rejoicing  in 
God  his  Saviour ;"  "  glorifying  God  in  the  patience 
of  hope  and  the  triumph  of  faith ;"  "  strong  in  the 
faith  of  the  gospel,  and  full  of  the  hope  of  immor- 
tality ;"  "  elevated  in  holy  triumph  above  the  suffer- 
ings of  disease  and  the  fear  of  death ;"  "  without 
fear  or  alarm,  but  rejoicing  that  he  had  got  so  near 
home ;"  "  heavenly  light  radiated  his  mind,  and  eter- 
nal glory  beamed  upon  his  path;"  "died  witnessing 
a  good  confession  before  many  witnesses,"  &c.,  &c. 
Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous^  and  let  my 
last  end  he  like  his. 


410 


LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1832. 


CHAPTEE  XIY. 

THIRD  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOURS. 

General  Conference  of  1832  —  Representation  —  Character  of  the  Session 

—  Two  Bishops  elected  —  Bishop  Bedding's  Purpose  to  resign  —  Action 
of  the  New- York  and  Xew-England  Delegates  —  He  yields  to  their 
Judgment  —  The  Xew-York  Conference  —  Its  Division  —  Law  Questions 

—  A  Question  proposed  —  New-England  Conference  —  Ravages  of  the 
Cholera  —  Aspect  in  New-York  City  —  The  People  rushing  from  the 
City — Passage  up  the  Hudson  —  Reflections  —  Note:  Distressing  Case 
of  a  Widow  and  her  Son  —  Letter  to  Bishop  Roberts  —  Oneida  Con- 
ference—  Genesee  —  Efforts  to  reach  the  Canada  Conference — Fails  — 
Alarming  Symptoms  —  Reaches  Home  —  State  of  his  Feelings  —  Statis- 
tics of  the  Year  —  Presides  over  the  Virginia  Conference  in  1833  —  A 
Few  Days  in  Washington  —  Idea  of  the  City  —  Old  Age  an  Incurable 
Disease  —  Conferences  attended  —  A  Great  Dinner  —  The  Meeting  of 
Old  Friends  —  Prosperity  of  the  Oneida  Conference  —  Completes  his 
Conference  Visitation  for  tlie  Year  —  Tax  upon  his  Distinction  as  an 
Expounder  of  Ecclesiastical  Law  —  Prosperity  of  the  Church — The 
Oregon  Mission — Educational  Interests  —  Conference  Labours  for  1834: 

—  Death  of  two  Fellow-labourers  —  The  Labours  of  a  Bishop  —  Ques- 
tion involving  the  Administration  of  Presiding  Elders  —  The  Course  of 
Study  for  Candidates  in  the  Ministry  —  Action  of  the  Bishops  assailed 
— Letter  of  Bishop  Emory  —  A  Singular  Question  affecting  the  Mar- 
riage Relation  of  Slaves  —  Progress  of  the  Church  —  Conferences  in 
1835  —  Development  of  our  Ecclesiastical  Jurisprudence  —  Question 
upon  electing  Committees  on  Trials  —  Death  of  Bishop  M'Kendree 

—  Sudden  Death  of  Bishop  Emory  —  Returns  of  Members  —  Incident 
upon  Long  Island  Sound  —  Attends  the  Virginia  and  Baltimore  Confer- 
ences —  Progress  of  the  Church  during  the  four  Preceding  Years. 

The  General  Conference  of  1832  was  composed  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty-three  delegates,  representing 
twenty  annnal  conferences,  as  follows: — I^ew-York, 
twenty ;  [N'ew-England,  fourteen ;  Maine,  eleven ; 
Kew-Hampshire  and  Yermont,  eleven;  Oneida, 
twelve ;   Genesee,  six ;  Pittsburgh,  eleven ;  Ohio, 


1832.]  GENERAL   CONFERENCE.  411 

fifteen  ;  Illinois,  seven ;  Holston,  eight ;  Kentucky, 
thirteen ;  Missouri,  three ;  Tennessee,  thirteen ;  Mis- 
sissippi, seven;  Georgia,  twelve;  South  Carolina, 
nine ;  Virginia,  fourteen ;  Baltimore,  seventeen ; 
Philadelphia,  eighteen ;  and  Canada,  three.  Tlie 
conference  was  opened  in  the  usual  manner,  after 
which  the  address  of  the  bishops  was  read.  It  is  a 
concise,  compact  business  document,  congratula- 
ting the  Church  upon  the  great  prosperity  of  the 
preceding  four  years,  and  upon  the  passing  away 
of  the  troubles  and  dangers  which  seemed  so  por- 
tentous of  evil ;  and  then  presenting  before  the  body 
the  various  benevolent  enterprises  and  provision- 
ary  arrangements  that  should  claim  their  atten- 
tion during  the  session.  The  business  of  the  confer- 
ence appears  to  have  proceeded  with  great  harmony 
and  despatch ;  nor  was  there  any  topic  that  occasioned 
such  excitement  and  elicited  such  discussions  as  had 
been  witnessed  in  several  preceding  sessions.  The 
presiding-elder  question  had  been  decisively  settled, 
and  even  the  radical  controversy,  after  the  withdrawal 
of  most  of  the  leading  malcontents,  had  died  away. 
Even  upon  the  subject  of  slavery,  a  spirit  of  con- 
ciliation seemed  to  prevail ;  for  the  South,  passing  by 
the  man  who  would  have  been  the  favourite  candi- 
date for  the  episcopacy  but  for  his  connexion  with 
"  the  great  evil,"  nominated  Kev.  James  O.  Andrew, 
and  he,  with  the  Rev.  John  Emory,  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  bishop  on  the  first  ballotting, — the 
former  receiving  one  hundred  and  forty,  and  the 

18 


412  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1832. 

latter  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  out  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty-three,  the  whole  number  of  votes  cast. 

"We  have  abeady  noticed  the  unaffected  reluctance 
with  which  Bishop  Hedding  consented  to  enter  upon 
the  duties  of  the  episcopal  office.  He  had  now 
continued  in  the  office  eight  years,  and  during  that 
time  had  presided  in  whole  or  in  part  over  fifty-two 
conferences,  and  had  traversed  the  whole  country 
from  Maine  in  the  east  to  Indiana  in  the  west,  and 
from  Canada  in  the  north  to  Georgia  in  the  south. 
In  this  work  he  had  performed  severe  labour,  and 
endured  many  hardships ;  but  his  success  was  abun- 
dant, and  he  had  been  steadily  rising  in  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  w^hole  Church.  But  it  appears 
that  from  the  outset  he  had  been  subject  to  great 
trials  of  mind  with  reference  to  continuing  in  the 
office  of  bishop.  These  arose  in  part  from  the  great 
difficulties  and  responsibilities  of  the  work, — particu- 
larly that  of  stationing  the  preachers ;  and  in  part 
from  his  humble  estimate  of  his  own  pei*sonal  qualifi- 
cations for  the  office.  These  things,  in  connexion 
with  his  bodily  affiictions,  now  made  him  doubt 
whether  he  ought  any  longer  to  continue  in  tlie 
office;  and  indeed  he  says,  "I  felt  a  strong  desire 
to  be  released  from  its  burdens."  He,  however,  did 
not  feel  at  liberty  to  offer  his  resignation  of  the  office 
without  first  consulting  his  brethren — the  delegates 
of  the  Kew-York  and  the  l^ew-England  Conferences, 
by  whose  efforts  he  had  been  elected,  and  by  whom 
he  had  been  so  cordially  sustained.    Accordingly  he 


1832.]         WISHES   TO   RESIGN   HIS   OFFICE.  413 


called  a  meeting  of  these  delegates,  and  laid  open  his 
views  and  wishes  fully  to  them,  and  told  them  it 
would  be  a  great  relief  to  him  if  they  would  consent 
to  his  resignation.  After  he  had  retired  they  can- 
vassed the  matter  among  themselves,  and  gave  ex- 
pression to  their  strong  conviction  in  the  following 
resolution : — 

"  Resolved^  That  it  is  the  unanimous  judgment  of 
the  delegates  of  the  ISTew-York  and  New-England 
Conferences,  that  Bishop  Hedding  ought  wholly  to 
relinquish  the  idea  of  ever  resigning  the  episcopal 
office,  or  of  discontinuing  the  exercise  of  it  at  any 
time,  unless  under  some  imperious  dispensation  of 
Providence  compelling  him  so  to  do. 

"Daniel  Ostrander,  Chairman. 
"  W.  FisK,  BecretamjP 

Philadelphia, 
May  8,  1832." 

The  leading  brethren  of  these  delegations  also  con- 
versed with  him  privately,  and  gave  their  reasons  in 
detail  for  objecting  to  his  resignation.  They  were 
such  as  he  could  not  resist,  but  at  the  same  time 
such  as  often  made  him  feel  a  crushing  sense  of  his 
responsibility.  Under  the  constraining  influence  of 
this  advice,  he  yielded  to  the  convictions  of  his  breth- 
ren and  the  universal  wish  of  the  Church,  and  con- 
tinued with  unabated  zeal  and  fidelity  to  exercise  the 
episcopal  functions  till  disabled  by  age  and  failing 
health. 

Mrs.  Hedding  joined  her  husband,  whom  she  had 
not  seen  for  eleven  montlis,  at  Philadelphia.  After 


414:  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1832. 

the  adjournment  of  tlie  General  Conference  tliey  jour- 
neyed, in  company  with  Bishop  Roberts,  to  N"ew-York 
city,  where  the  IsTew-Tork  Conference  commenced 
its  session  on  the  6th  of  June.  Remarkable  pros- 
perity had  been  enjoyed  within  the  bounds  of  this 
conference  during  the  year,  and  an  increase  of  seven 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight  was  re- 
ported, making  a  total  membership  of  forty-seven 
thousand  and  eighty-six.  Tlie  General  Conference 
had  just  provided  for  its  division,  and  that  division 
was  to  be  carried  into  effect  at  this  session.  This 
rendered  it  a  session  of  great  importance  and  respon- 
sibility. The  stations  of  the  preachers  would  deter- 
mine whether  they  should  continue  their  ecclesiastical 
relation  to  the  Kew-York  Conference,  or  be  included 
in  the  Troy  Conference,  now  to  be .  organized.  Tlie 
milder  climate  and  peculiar  facilities  of  the  southern 
division,  and  also  the  local  connexions,  with  many  of 
the  preachers,  rendered  it  an  object  of  great  interest  to 
fall  into  that  section  of  the  work.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, to  fix  all  the  appointments  so  as  to  secure  the 
great  interests  of  the  work  and  satisfy  the  people,  and 
at  the  same  time  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  preachers, 
was  a  task  not  often  encountered  even  in  episcopal 
experience.  Bishop  Roberts  being  a  comparative 
stranger,  the  duty  of  adjusting  these  questions  fell 
mainly  upon  Bishop  Hedding.  With  a  patience  that 
seemed  to  know  no  exhaustion  he  listened  to  every 
application,  and  carefully  weighed  the  arguments  by 
which  each  was  enforced ;  and  rarely  failed  either  to 


1832.] 


LAW  QUESTIONS. 


416 


grant  the  request,  or  to  satisfy  the  brother  making  it 
that  it  could  not  be  granted  without  injury  to  the 
work.  By  this  means  the  appointments  were  finalfy 
so  arranged  as  to  give  almost  universal  satisfaction. 
About  eighteen  thousand  five  hundred  members  and 
ninety-two  preachers  were  thus  set  ofi"  into  the  Troy 
Conference. 

Some  years  later  than  this,  it  was  provided  in  the 
Discipline  that  the  bishops  presiding  in  an  annual 
conference  should  be  the  official  judges  of  questions 
of  law.  But  at  this  time,  and  even  earlier,  it  had 
become  quite  common  for  annual  conferences  to  sub- 
mit such  questions  to  them  for  their  opinion.  Bishop 
Hedding  had  already  acquired  a  reputation  for  his 
sound  and  able  judgment  in  all  questions  touching 
the  constitution  and  law  of  the  Church ;  and  when- 
ever he  presided,  it  had  come  to  be  quite  common 
for  the  conference  to  ask  his  opinion  on  any  such 
question  in  respect  to  which  differences  of  opinion 
had  arisen,  or  diversity  of  administration  had  taken 
place.  At  this  conference  a  great  debate  arose  on  a 
law  question.  A  local  preacher  had  been  expelled 
by  a  quarterly  conference,  and  he  appealed  to  the 
annual  conference,  not  on  the  ground  of  injustice 
in  the  decision,  but  of  illegality  in  the  proceedings 
against  him.  The  illegality  he  alleged  was,  that  prior 
to  the  quarterly  conference  which  expelled  him,  and 
preparatory  to  his  trial  by  that  conference,  he  had 
been  arrested,  examined,  and  suspended  by  an  illegal 
court — the  committee  in  the  case  being  constituted  of 


4:16  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1832. 

two  local  preachers  and  one  class-leader;  whereas 
he  alleged  it  should  have  consisted  exclusively  of 
local  preachers.  The  members  of  the  annual  confer- 
ence were  divided  in  opinion  ;  some  believed  the  trial 
was  illegal,  and  others  believed  it  was  not.  As  it 
was  a  law  question,  a  motion  was  made  to  refer  it  to 
the  bishops.  Bishop  Roberts  declined  having  any- 
thing to  do  with  it.  Bishop  Hedding  said  he  would 
decide  the  question,  provided  they  would  agree  to 
abide  by  his  decision  and  have  no  debate  about  it 
afterward ;  but  he  would  not  decide  it  otherwise.  On 
these  conditions  the  conference  submitted  it  to  his 
judgment.  He  decided  that  the  court  which  sus- 
pended the  local  preacher  was  illegal,  as  alleged; 
that,  in  fact,  he  was  not  suspended,  but  went  to  the 
quarterly  meeting  under  charges  the  same  as  if  no 
previous  step  had  been  taken.  The  quarterly  confer- 
ence had  original  jurisdiction  in  the  case.  They  tried 
and  expelled  him;  and  as  he  had  not  appealed  on 
the  ground  of  injustice  in  the  decision  of  the  quar- 
terly conference,  but  only  on  the  ground  of  illegality 
in  the  court  that  suspended  him,  he  was  legally  ex- 
pelled. His  appeal  therefore  cannot  lie,  and  the  case 
is  dismissed. 

The  New-England  Conference  commenced  its  ses- 
sion June  15th,  at  Providence,  Bhode  Island.  Bish- 
ops Roberts  and  Hedding  were  both  present.  The 
conference  statistics  exhibited  a  good  degree  of  pros- 
perity, the  increase  being  two  thousand  four  hundred 
and  nine.    The  total  number  of  members  was  fifteen 


1832.] 


CHOLEKA    IN  NEW-TOEK. 


417 


thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-six,  and  the  number 
of  preachers  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine.  The  ex- 
citing scenes  of  polemic  disputation  and  of  bitter  op- 
position experienced  while  Methodism  was  first  invad- 
ing this  territory  had  died  away,  and  the  sons  were 
now  carefully  and  wisely  cultivating  the  ground  which 
had  been  first  taken  possession  of  by  their  pioneer 
fathers.  During  the  session  of  the  conference,  the 
alarming  intelligence  reached  the  place  that  the 
Asiatic  Cholera  had  broken  out  in  JSTew-York  and 
other  cities,  and  was  making  frightful  ravages.  The 
news  created  a  profound  impression,  and  elicited 
much  and  earnest  prayer ;  but  the  preachers  seemed 
universally  determined  to  stand  at  their  posts,  and 
commit  themselves  to  God. 

Bishop  Hedding  was  now  within  about  fifty  miles 
of  his  home,  from  which  he  had  been  absent — with 
the  exception  of  a  single  visit  of  three  or  four  days — 
about  sixteen  months.  But  he  was  not  even  now 
permitted  to  visit  it ;  for  his  duties  required  him 
immediately  at  the  close  of  the  conference  to  turn 
his  face  in  another  direction.  He  retm-ned  to 
New- York  on  his  way  to  the  northern  conferences. 
In  the  city  he  spent  only  an  hour ;  but  this  was 
enough  to  reveal  to  him  something  of  the  horrors  of 
the  scene  witnessed  there.  The  people  were  flying 
in  every  direction  to  escape  the  dreaded  pestilence ; 
men,  women,  and  children  were  dying  every  hour, 
and  that  too,  for  the  most  part,  with  a  transition  from 
health  to  death  as  sudden  as  it  was  painful ;  gloom 


418 


LIFE    AJS'D    TIMES    OF  HEDDIjS'G. 


[1832. 


and  comparative  stillness  pervaded  the  city,  and  tlie 
symbols  of  death  were  seen  in  every  direction.  Even 
on  board  the  boat,  some  of  the  fugitives  who  were 
endeavouring  to  escape  from  the  pestilence  God  had 
sent  upon  the  land  were  stricken  down,  and  the  bit- 
ter cry  of  despairing  agony  broke  the  stillness  that 
otherwise  jji'evailed;  for  no  one  seemed  disposed  to 
conversation,  and  the  necessary  communications  were 
made  in  suppressed  and  almost  inaudible  tones. 
Bishop  Hedding  felt  that  it  was  a  time  for  the  trial 
of  his  faith :  he  w^as  travelling  alone ;  was  among 
strangers,  each  one  of  whom  seemed  intent  only  upon 
his  own  safety ;  he  might  die,  and  be  shuffled  into 
the  earth ;  and  in  the  haste  and  confusion  no  one  ever 
ascertain  his  name,  or  apprize  his  friends  of  his  death.* 

Such  things  actually  occurred  in  repeated  instances.  One  I  will 
relate.  A  widow  with  her  only  son,  a  lad  of  ten  or  twelve  years, 
started  from  the  city  on  one  of  the  over-crowded  steamboats  for  one 
of  the  Hudson  River  villages,  intending  to  find  a  place  of  refuge  with 
an  uncle  back  in  the  country.  The  passage  up  the  river  was  mado 
under  the  greatest  excitement,  as  several  of  the  passengers  were 
smitten  down  with  the  pestilence,  and  a  number  died.  The  village 
was  reached,  and  a  large  number  of  passengers  were  landed;  but 
so  frightful  were  the  ravages  of  the  disease  among  them,  that  many 
died  before  they  reached  their  place  of  refuge,  and  were  hurried  be- 
neath the  sod.  The  little  boy's  mother  complained  of  being  unwell 
before  landing,  and  when  landed  found  herself  unable  to  walk,  and 
to  procure  a  conveyance  was  impossible.  She  then  directed  her 
son  to  travel  as  fast  as  possible  to  the  uncle's,  and  return  with  a 
conveyance.  It  was  not  till  the  next  morning  that  he  could  return, 
and  then  no  traces  of  his  mother  could  be  found.  Several  had  died, 
and  been  buried ;  but  the  burial  had  been  roughly  and  hastily  done, 
just  when  the  victim  happened  to  breathe  his  last,  and  by  whomso- 
ever happened  to  be  near,  and  to  possess  the  courage  necessary  to 
perform  the  work.    That  lad,  when  he  had  grown  up  to  man's  es- 


1832.]  LETTER   FROM   MRS.    HEDDING.  419 

But  in  this  hour  of  trial  he  committed  his  all  to  God ; 
and  felt  great  peace  in  the  assurance  that  if  his 
Heavenly  Father  had  further  need  of  his  services  he 
could  protect  and  preserve  him  from  all  the  dangers 
that  beset  his  path.  When  he  reached  Albany,  he 
found  that  city  also  in  the  greatest  consternation  from 
the  same  cause.  His  own  mind,  however,  was  calm 
and  collected.  He  rested  quietly  through  the  night, 
and  in  the  morning  left  for  Utica  by  a  canal  packet- 
boat.  All  along  the  line  of  the  canal,  and  at  TJtica, 
he  witnessed  the  ravages  of  the  same  frightful  dis- 
ease. 

A  beautifully  appropriate  letter  was  written  by  Mrs. 
Hedding  about  this  time  to  Bishop  Eoberts.  From 
it  the  following  extracts  are  drawn :  Since  I  saw  you 
my  health  has  been  every  day  improving.  I  received 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Hedding,  dated  July  12th.  He  had 
not  then  decided  about  going  to  Upper  Canada.  He 
will  write  again  soon.  He  is  surrounded  by  the 
mortal  pestilence,  and  whichever  way  he  turns  must 
face  it ;  yet  I  believe  God  will  preserve  him. 

"  As  for  myself,  I  had  more  anxiety  to  know  that 
my  soul  was  fitted  for  heaven  than  usual ;  for  I  know 
that  this  mortal  body  must,  ere  long,  return  to  its 

tate,  told  me  that  the  uncertainty  whicli  hung  over  the  fate  of  hia 
mother  still  occasioned  him  the  most  excruciating  anguish  ;  and  that 
he  had  spent  weeks,  if  not  months,  around  the  spot  where  he  parted 
from  her,  and  along  the  entire  road  leading  to  his  uncle's,  seeking 
from  every  man,  woman,  and  child  along  the  line  some  little  token 
that  might  serve  as  a  clue  to  the  painful  mystery.  None  was  ever 
found. 

18* 


420  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1832. 


mother  earth.  The  Church  fast  was  a  blessing  to  me. 
Tlie  Lord  is  my  portion.  I  am  happy  when  in  the 
Sabbath  school.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord ! 
May  our  good  God  prosper  you  on  your  way !  Give 
my  love  to  Mrs.  Roberts,  of  whom  I  often  think. 
Pray  for  me." 

On  his  way  to  the  Oneida  Conference,  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  visited  the  Lidian  mission,  and  was  highly  grati- 
fied at  the  permanent  and  progressive  character  of 
the  work  among  these  poor  natives.  The  conference 
assembled  at  Manlius,  July  12th.  It  had  been  a  year 
of  almost  unprecedented  religious  prosperity.  An  in- 
crease of  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty  was 
reported,  making  a  total  membership  of  thirty-one 
thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty.  IN'or  was  this  all. 
There  had  been  a  great  and  manifest  increase  of  the 
work  of  God  in  the  hearts  of  the  preachers,  many  of 
whom  came  forward  and  told  what  great  things  God 
had  done  for  them^  as  well  as  for  their  flocks,  during 
the  year.  A  deep  devotional  feeling  pervaded  the 
entire  conference,  and  it  was  a  session  of  unusual  re- 
ligious interest.  God  had  not  only  given  to  his  ser- 
vants a  good  increase  for  their  labours,  but  was  pre- 
paring them  for  still  greater  things. 

From  Manlius  he  proceeded  to  Penn  Yan,  where 
he  met  the  Genesee  Conference  on  the  26th  of  July. 
He  had  engaged  also  to  attend  the  session  of  the 
Canada  Conference,  and  ordain  the  preachers  who 
might  be  elected  to  orders.  For  this  purpose  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Oswego,  designing  to  cross  the  lake  into 


1832.]  EFFORTS   TO   VISIT   CANADA.  421 

Canada.  But  here  he  found  all  communication 
broken  off,  in  consequence  of  the  ravages  of  the 
cholera.  Unwilling  to  be  foiled  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty,  he  took  the  stage  for  "Watertown,  intending 
to  cross  the  St.  Lawrence  just  below  that  place,  and 
thus  accomplish  the  object  of  his  mission.  On  the 
7th  of  August  he  reported  himself,  in  a  letter  to  his 
wife,  as  being  twenty-five  miles  from  the  place  where 
he  expected  to  be  able  to  cross  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
eighty  miles  from  the  seat  of  the  conference,  which 
was  to  commence  its  session  the  next  day;  yet  he 
expected  to  reach  it  before  the  Sabbath.  But  as  he 
advanced  he  found  the  ravages  of  the  cholera  more 
frightful,  and  all  the  usual  modes  of  communication 
broken  up,  or  rendered  so  irregular  that  no  reliance 
could  be  placed  upon  them.  Under  these  circum- 
stances he  was  induced  to  give  over  the  effort,  and 
turn  his  face  homeward.  The  day  after  he  started 
from  Watertown  he  was  seized  with  symptoms  of 
cholera — an  exhausting  diarrhoea,  with  cold  feet  and 
legs  up  to  his  knees.  Yet  he  continued  his  journey, 
stopping  a  day  or  two  to  recruit  when,  he  had  be- 
come entirely  exhausted.  In  this  plight  he  travelled 
through  northern  Kew-York,  crossed  Vermont  and 
I^^ew-Hampshire  into  Massachusetts,  and  at  length 
reached  Lynn.  Then  followed  a  long  season  of  sick- 
ness and  exhaustion,  from  which  he  had  only  par- 
tially recovered  when  summoned  again  from  his 
home  by  the  episcopal  duties  of  the  succeeding  year. 
The  record  of  his  feelings  and  views  at  this  period 


4:22  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1832. 

possesses  a  peculiar  interest.  "  I  have  been  led,"  says 
he,  "  to  many  serious  and  solemn  reflections — appre- 
hending that  probably  my  public  labours,  if  not  my 
life,  may  be  nearly  at  an  end.  But  I  thank  my  God 
that  through  the  merit  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  I  am  supported  with  a  glorious  hope  of  rest  in 
heaven !  I  have  been  comforted  also  with  the  reflec- 
tion that  my  life  has  been  sj)ent,  and  my  body  worn 
out,  in  endeavouring  sincerely,  though  imperfectly,  to 
promote  the  cause  of  Clii'ist;  and  after  thirty-two 
years'  employment  in  preaching  the  doctrines  of  the 
Methodist  Ej)iscopal  Church,  I  am  confirmed  in  the 
belief  that  they  are  the  doctrines  of  Christ.  And 
after  seeing,  for  that  length  of  time,  the  effects  of  our 
plan  of  spreading  the  gospel,  and  governing  the  flock 
committed  to  our  care,  and  bearing  my  full  share  of 
the  burdens  and  privations  connected  with  this  plan, 
I  am  satisfled  it  is  the  best  I  know  of  in  this  world 
for  the  benefit  of  the  souls  of  men.  If  I  could  have 
another  life,  I  would  cheerfully  spend  it  in  this  blessed 
cause." 

The  Church  had  been  favom^ed  with  blessed  pros- 
perity during  this  year.  Only  two  conferences, 
namely,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  had  reported  a 
decrease,  the  former  amounting  to  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  seventy-nine,  and  the  latter  to  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six.  On  the  other  hand,  several  of 
the  conferences  reported  a  large  increase — the  Xew- 
York,  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight ; 
the  Ohio,  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty- 


1833.] 


WASHINGTON  CITY. 


423 


three ;  the  Georgia,  four  thousand  and  nineteen ;  the 
Oneida,  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty ;  the 
Elinois,  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty;  and 
others  not  as  large.  The  aggregate  of  membership 
was  now  five  hundred  and  forty-eight  thousand  five 
hundred  and  ninety-three,  making  an  increase  for  the 
year  of  thirty-five  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy. 
The  aggregate  of  traveUing  preachers  was  two  thou- 
sand two  hundred ;  increase,  one  hundred  and  ninety. 
Within  the  bounds  of  the  Xew-York  and  the  Oneida 
Conferences  especially,  there  had  been  very  extensive 
revivals.  Tlie  ravages  of  that  terrible  scourge,  tlie 
Asiatic  cholera,  instead  of  interrupting  the  progress 
of  these  revivals,  seemed  to  deepen  the  religious  in- 
terest, and  was  instrumental  in  bringing  hundreds,  if 
not  thousands,  of  the  thoughtless  and  wicked  to  deep 
concern  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Thus  judg- 
ment and  mercy  were  blended  together. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  with  his  health  only  im- 
perfectly restored.  Bishop  Hedding  left  his  home  to 
enter  upon  the  episcopal  duties  of  the  year.  He 
reached  Petersburgh,  Virginia,  on  the  26th,  and 
the  next  day  opened  the  Yirginia  Conference.  He 
was  here  assisted  by  Bishop  Emory.  After  its  close 
he  returned  to  Baltimore,  by  the  way  of  ISTorfolk  and 
Washington,  and  met  the  Baltimore  Conference  on 
the  2Tth  of  March.  At  Washington  City  he  rested  a 
few  days  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Sewall — a  name  of  pre- 
cious memory  in  the  Methodist  Church.  Tlie  only 
thing  that  seemed  to  mar  his  comfort,  was  the  num- 


434  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1833. 

ber  of  "  burdensome  dinners  and  teas  "  to  wliich  bis 
friends  in  tbe  kindness  of  tbeir  bearts  subjected  bim. 
"Tbis  city,"  says  be,  in  a  letter  to  bis  wife,  "is  tbe 
seat  of  fasbion  and  folly.  Here  great  speecbes  are 
made,  and  bere  great  weakness  and  foobsbness  are 
exbibited.  Here  great  talent,  some  wisdom,  a  little 
virtue,  and  great  and  glaring  con-uptions,  are  brougbt 
togetber  from  all  parts  of  tbe  nation."  In  a  subse- 
quent part  of  bis  letter,  referring  to  bis  bealtb,  be 
says,  "It  bas  been  gradually  improving  since  I  left 
bome,  but  I  am  not  yet  as  well  as  I  was  a  year  ago. 
I  am  getting  wbat  Dr.  Clarke  calls  an  incm-able  dis- 
ease— tbat  is,  old  age.  I  am  daily  reminded  tbat  I 
am  bastening  to  my  long  bome.  It  seems  but  a  few 
days  since  I  was  a  boy,  and  now  I  am  an  old  man, 
just  ready  to  drop  into  tbe  grave.  Wbat  a  poor 
tbing  is  buman  life  !  a  dream,  a  sbadow !  But  tbere 
is  bope  beyond  tbe  grave — bope  of  eternal  life  !  Let 
us  cleave  to  tbat  bope,  and  bope  on  unto  tbe 
end." 

Tbe  session  of  tbe  Baltimore  Conference  was  quite 
protracted  and  laborious,  owing  to  several  trials,  some 
of  wbicb  were  complicated,  and  consumed  a  good 
deal  of  time.  Great  success  bad  attended  tbe  labours 
of  tbe  preacbers,  and  an  increase  of  five  tbousand 
two  bundred  and  forty-nine  was  reported,  making  tbe 
total  membersbip  in  tbe  conference  forty-nine  tbou- 
sand  two  bundred  and  tbirty-nine.  From  Baltimore 
be  proceeded  to  I^ewark,  j^.  J.,  wbere  be  met  tbe 
Pbiladelpbia  Conference  on  tbe  ITtb  of  April.  Tbe 


1833.] 


A   TOAST  DECLINED. 


425 


session  of  this  conference  was  a  season  of  Tinusual 
religious  interest.  Both  preachers  and  people  seemed 
to  realize  the  presence  and  power  of  God  in  an  im- 
usnal  degree.  Here  also  the  large  increase  of  six 
thousand  and  twenty-six  was  reported,  making  a  total 
membership  of  fifty-five  thousand  and  seventy-one. 
Philadelphia  was  now  the  largest  conference  in  the 
Church.  At  Poughkeepsie,  Bishop  Hedding  met  the 
New- York  Conference  on  the  8th  of  May ;  on  the  7th 
of  June  following,  the  IS'ew-England  Conference  at 
Boston ;  and  on  the  3d  of  July,  the  Maine  Conference 
at  Bath. 

An  incident  worthy  of  record  occurred  during  the 
session  of  the  conference  at  Bath.  A  prominent  citi- 
zen of  the  place,  an  ex-governor  of  the  state,  made  a 
great  dinner,  and  invited  nearly  all  the  members  of 
the  conference,  and  also  many  prominent  laymen. 
The  tables  were  loaded  with  the  choicest  luxuries  of 
the  day,  among  which  the  wine -bottles  that  were 
scattered  over  them  made  a  prominent  figure.  The 
gentleman  took  his  seat  at  the  end  of  one  of  the 
tables,  and  placed  the  bishop  by  the  side  of  his  lady 
at  the  end  of  another.  After  they  had  been  seated  a 
short  time,  their  host  rose,  and  turning  to  the  bishop — 
at  the  same  time  filling  his  wine-glass — said,  "  Bishop, 
give  me  the  pleasure  to  drink  a  glass  of  wine  with 
you."  The  bishop,  with  his  usual  frankness  and 
readiness,  but  with  much  decision,  replied,  "  I  pray 
you  will  excuse  me,  sir ;  I  never  drink  wine  except 
at  the  sacrament,  or  as  a  medicine."   The  gentleman, 


426  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1833- 

somewhat  confused,  then  turned  and  solicited  the 
whole  company  to  drink  with  him;  but  not  a  single 
preacher,  and  only  one  or  two  laymen,  touched  the 
cup.  Temperance  principles  had  already  begun  to 
work  powerfully  among  the  people,  and  in  that 
movement,  as  well  as  in  all  other  philanthropic  and 
benevolent  enterprises,  the  preachei*s  were  leading 
the  way  both  by  precept  and  example.  The  hberal 
host,  who  thought  to  regale  them  with  wine,  as  well 
as  to  feast  them  with  food,  was  either  not  well  posted 
up  in  the  character  of  the  temperance  movement,  or 
he  thought,  by  betraying  the  preachers  into  indul- 
gence in  wine,  to  throw  contempt  upon  the  incipient 
reformation,  and  paralyze  their  moral  power  in  the 
cause.  K  the  blunder  resulted  from  ignorance  of  the 
temperance  movement,  the  politician  got  some  light 
upon  the  subject ;  if  thi'ough  mischievous  design,  he 
met  with  a  severe  and  just  rebuke. 

The  next  conference  met  by  the  bishop  was  the 
Xew-Hampshire,  at  Korthfield,  July  18th.  Here  he 
met  many  old  friends  not  only  among  the  preachei*s, 
but  also  among  the  laity.  Many  who  had  nobly  stood 
by  him  nearly  thirty  years  before,  during  the  six 
years  of  his  early  toil  in  this  region,  now  came  miles 
to  take  him  by  the  hand,  and  mingle  their  rejoicings 
with  his  at  the  prosperity  of  the  cause  of  God,  and 
over  the  glorious  j)rospect  of  a  re-union  in  the  better 
land.  The  sight  of  these  old  veterans  of  the  cross, 
some  of  them  his  old  spiritual  children,  deeply  affect- 
ed the  heart  of  the  bishop,  as  they  vividly  called  up 


1833.] 


ONEIDA  CONFEKENCE. 


42T 


the  toils  and  trials  of  those  early  days.  "Yerily," 
said  he,  it  is  bread  gathered  after  many  days.  God 
has  showed  me  that  I  did  not  labour  in  vain.  How 
great  is  his  mercy  in  blessing  labours  so  feeble,  and 
making  them  so  fruitful.  Those  labours  were  often 
crossing  to  the  flesh,  and  I  sometimes  almost  repined 
as  though  mine  was  a  hard  lot.  But  O !  if  I  were 
young  again,  and  could  buckle  on  the  armour  afresh, 
how  would  I  rejoice  to  endure  even  greater  hard- 
ships and  to  perform  even  harder  labours,  if  I  might 
be  instrumental  in  accomplishing  like  results." 

Soon  after  the  session  of  this  conference,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Granville,  IST.  Y.,  where  he  preached  the 
dedication  sermon  in  a  new  church  which  had  been 
erected  in  that  place.  He  also  met  the  Troy  Confer- 
ence, in  the  city  of  Troy,  on  the  28th  of  August. 
Then  he  journeyed  west,  visiting  again  the  Oneida 
Indian  mission,  and  meeting  the  Oneida  Conference 
at  Cazenovia  on  the  25th  of  September.  Another 
year  of  remarkable  prosperity  had  been  enjoyed 
within  the  bounds  of  this  conference — the  increase 
for  the  year  being  five  thousand  six  hundi*ed  and 
twenty-seven.  This  conference  first  appears  upon  the 
Minutes,  in  1829,  with  nineteen  thousand  three  hun- 
dren  and  twenty  members,  and  one  hundred  and  ten 
travelling  preachers.  This  was,  therefore,  its  fifth 
session,  and  it  now  presented  an  aggregate  of  thirty- 
seven  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  mem- 
bers, and  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  travelling  preach- 
ers— ^being  an  increase  in  five  years  of  seventeen 


428  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1833. 

thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-seven  members 
and  fifty-six  preachers.  It  was  now  the  sixth  confer- 
ence in  point  of  numbers. 

From  Cazenovia  Bishop  Hedding  travelled  to  TVest 
Mendon,  where  he  met  the  Genesee  Conference  on 
the  16th  of  October.  After  this  he  had  several  en- 
gagements, which  so  occupied  him  on  his  return 
home  that  he  did  not  reach  Ljmn  till  the  10th  of 
December.  His  episcopal  tours  and  labours  had  oc- 
cupied him  between  ten  and  eleven  months  this  year. 
He  had  attended  ten  conferences,  and,  with  one  excep- 
tion, had  presided  in  all  without  the  aid  of  any  other 
bishop.  Yet  his  health  had  greatly  improved  from 
what  it  was  the  preceding  year,  and  God  had  greatly 
sustained  and  blessed  him  in  his  labours. 

Bishop  Hedding  had  already  attained  an  enviable 
distinction  as  an  able  expounder  of  ecclesiastical 
law ;  but  this  honour  was  not  worn  without  a  heavy 
compensation,  demanded  in  the  form  of  solutions  of 
law  questions.  These  were  propounded  to  him  from 
all  parts  of  the  work,  but  more  especially  from  tlie 
northern  conferences ;  consequently,  when  he  reached 
home  he  found  a  frightful  accumulation  of  letter  re- 
quiring answers.  Many  of  these  propounded  grave 
and  intricate  questions,  which  required  serious  reflec- 
tion and  elaborate  answers.  Much  of  his  time  during 
the  present  winter  was  devoted  to  this  private,  but 
responsible  and  laborious,  portion  of  the  duties  of  a 
bishop  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  Church  had  enjoyed  another  year  of  great 


1833.] 


PROGRESS   OF    THE  WORK. 


429 


prosperity.  The  excitements  and  agitations  growing 
out  of  the  radical  controversy  had  died  away,  so  that 
the  Church,  enjoying  peace  within,  had  been  left  to 
turn  all  her  forces  against  the  powers  of  the  kingdom 
of  darkness  without.  The  result  was  an  increase  of 
fifty-one  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-three,  mak- 
ing the  total  membership  five  hundred  and  ninety- 
nine  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-six.  Tlie 
greatest  increase  in  any  one  conference  was  in  the 
Ohio,  where  it  was  six  thousand  five  hundred  and 
eighty-one.  The  total  number  of  travelling  preachers 
was  two  thousand  four  hundred;  increase,  two  hun- 
dred. All  the  other  interests  of  the  Church  had 
advanced  in  due  proportion.  The  missionary  work 
was  progressing  with  uncommon  interest.  New  mis- 
sions had  been  established  in  destitute  portions  of  the 
home  work  in  different  parts  of  the  country ;  also  sev- 
eral new  missions  among  the  Indians,  and  several  for 
the  benefit  of  the  slaves  in  different  parts  of  the  South. 
During  this  year,  also,  Messrs.  Rufus  Spaulding  and 
Samuel  O.  Wright,  and  their  wives,  together  with 
Miss  Sophronia  Farrington,  were  appointed  to  the 
missionary  work  in  Liberia,  and  sailed  to  carry  for- 
ward, if  it  were  the  will  of  God,  the  work  so  nobly 
commenced  by  the  martyred  Cox.  These  appoint- 
ments occasioned  Bishop  Hedding  a  great  amount  of 
anxiety,  and  he  felt  much  sMicitude  about  the  result. 
The  missionary  cause  had  also  received  an  additional 
impulse  this  year  from  the  visit  of  four  Flat-head  In- 
dians from  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  who  had 


430  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1833. 

come  as  a  delegation  from  their  tribe,  nearly  three 
thousand  miles,  that  they  might  obtain  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  true  God,  and  the  better  forms  of  worship. 
In  answer  to  the  stirring  appeals  of  Dr.  Fisk,  funds 
were  soon  raised;  and  two  hardy  and  entei'prising 
men,  Jason  and  Daniel  Lee,  were  appointed  to  the 
missionary  work  among  the  Indians  in  Oregon. 

In  the  educational  department  the  Church  had  done 
well  this  year.  Two  colleges — Dickinson  and  Alle- 
ghany— were  added  to  the  list:  Rev.  J.  P.  Durbin  was 
appointed  president  of  the  former,  and  Rev.  Martin 
Ruter,  D.  D.,  to  the  presidency  of  the  latter.  The 
Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  was  also  established 
during  this  year,  and  commenced  its  operations  under 
the  most  favourable  auspices.  Rev.  Samuel  Luckey, 
D.  D.,  was  elected  principal.  Bishop  Hedding  felt 
a  deep  interest  in  the  establishment  of  these  institu- 
tions ;  for  no  man  in  that  day  saw  more  clearly,  or 
felt  more  deeply,  the  necessity  of  providing  for  the 
education  of  our  own  people.  "  Little  did  I  think," 
said  he,  "  thirty  years  ago,  that  I  should  live  to  see 
the  day  when  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  would 
have  her  seminaries  and  her  colleges  in  every  part  of 
the  land,  and  when  she  would  number  more  than  half 
a  million  of  communicants.  Had  any  one  predicted 
this  when  I  first  entered  the  work  as  a  travelling 
minister,  I  would  have  thought  him  mad.  Yerily  God 
has  done  great  things  for  us.  He  has  made  a  great 
people  out  of  us  who  were  no  people.  How  great 
is  our  responsibility  to  the  people,  to  the  nation,  and 


1834.] 


CONFEEENCES  MET. 


431 


to  the  world  !  If  we  preserve  the  form  of  sound  doc- 
trine among  ns ;  if  we  preserve  the  simplicity  of  om* 
manners,  the  fire  and  purity  of  our  zeal,  and  the  in- 
tegrity of  our  institutions,  Methodism  will  yet  bless 
not  only  our  own  country  but  the  whole  earth.  Who 
could  have  predicted  that  God  would  have  accom- 
plished such  wonders  by  the  instrumentality  of  Meth- 
odism !  and  who  can  tell  what  wonders  he  will  yet 
accomplish  by  it  in  the  earth !" 

After  a  few  months'  rest  he  left  home  to  resume  his 
episcopal  labours,  on  the  3d  of  April,  1834.  Tliis  year 
he  attended  the  following  conferences,  namely :  Phil- 
adelphia, at  Philadelphia,  April  9th ;  New- York,  at 
New-Haven,  Connecticut,  May  Yth;  JSTew-England, 
at  Webster,  Massachusetts,  June  4th;  Maine,  at 
Gardiner,  July  3d ;  New-Hampshire,  at  West  Wind- 
sor, Yermont,  August  6th;  Troy,  at  Plattsburgh, 
August  2Tth ;  Oneida,  at  Auburn,  September  25th ; 
Genesee,  at  Brockport,  October  15th.  He  returned 
to  Lynn  the  last  of  November,  where  he  enjoyed  a 
longer  respite  from  conference  labours  than  he  had 
before  been  favom-ed  with  since  his  election  to  the 
episcopal  office. 

While  at  the  Philadelphia  Conference  he  says :  "  My 
heart  was  much  affected  by  the  remembrance  of  two 
of  my  old  and  intimate  friends,  who  had  died  within 
the  past  year,  Pev.  Thomas  F.  Sargent  and  Pev. 
Joseph  L.  Inghs.  They  were  talented,  lovely,  and 
heavenly-minded  men." 

After  the  session  of  the  Maine  Conference  this  year 


432  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1834. 

he  spent  a  short  time  at  home,  endeavouring,  as  he 
said,  to  recruit  both  body  and  spirit  from  the  ex- 
haustion they  had  suffered."  "Few  persons,"  says 
he  at  this  time,  "  can  have  any  idea  of  the  labour  of 
body  and  mind  the  president  of  an  annual  conference 
has  to  go  through  at  one  of  its  sessions.  At  the  Maine 
Conference  I  was  closely  confined  to  business,  early 
and  late,  for  nine  days.  Most  of  the  time  the  weather 
was  extremely  hot  and  enfeebHng.  I  presided  on  one 
trial  eight  and  a  half  hours,  without  any  intermission ; 
and  now,  though  ten  days  have  passed  since  the  confer- 
ence closed,  I  am  not  yet  recovered  from  my  exhaus- 
tion. I  do  not  yet  feel  like  myself ;  a  sense  of  fatigue 
hangs  upon  me.  O,  may  I  be  prepared  to  rest  in 
heaven,  when  my  body  shall  rest  from  these  journeys 
and  labours,  and  my  mind  from  these  cares  and  anx- 
ieties !" 

At  the  Oneida  Conference  a  law  question  was  pre- 
sented for  his  decision,  involving  a  point  which,  since 
the  usage  and  the  law  of  the  Church  had  become  so 
clearly  defined,  it  is  surprising  could  ever  have  been 
a  matter  of  doubt.  It  involved  the  administration 
of  two  presiding  eldei-s,  both  of  them  leading  men 
in  the  conference.  The  case  was  this.  These  two 
presiding  elders,  in  the  interim  of  the  conference,  and 
without  obtaining  the  sanction  of  or  even  consulting  a 
bishop,  had  changed  men  from  one  district  to  another. 
This  had  been  the  occasion  of  great  dissatisfaction 
both  among  the  preachere  and  some  of  the  laymen. 
The  question  was  raised  whether  a  presiding  elder  had 


1834.] 


COURSE   OF  STUDY. 


433 


authority  to  make  changes  that  would  transfer  a  man 
beyond  the  bounds  of  his  district.  The  bishop  de- 
cided that  the  presiding  elders  had  no  authority  to 
make  such  changes ;  and  if  they  attempted  to  make 
them  without  authority,  the  preachers  were  under  no 
obligation  to  submit  to  them.  This  prompt  decision, 
which  was  acquiesced  in  on  the  part  of  all  concerned, 
effectually  cured  an  evil  which  had  sprung  up,  and 
which,  but  for  this  timely  check,  might  have  been 
productive  of  the  most  serious  consequences. 

As  early  as  1816,  the  General  Conference  requested 
the  bishops  to  prescribe  a  course  of  study  for  the 
candidates  in  the  ministry.  This  was  done ;  but  the 
course  was  too  limited,  and  the  examinations  too 
superficial,  to  meet  for  any  great  length  of  time  the 
increasing  demands  for  intellectual  culture  in  their 
ministers  on  the  part  of  the  people.  Bishop  Hed- 
ding,  with  his  keen,  natural  sagacity,  had  not  been 
slow  to  discover  this  fact;  and  for  several  years  it 
had  occupied  his  mind  with  increasing  force  of  con- 
viction. At  the  Philadelphia  Conference  in  1833, 
Bishops  Hedding  and  Emory  prepared  a  special  two 
years'  course  of  study  for  the  candidates  for  deacon's 
orders.  It  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  con- 
ference, and  examining  committees  appointed  to 
conduct  the  examination.*  The  same  course  was 
adopted  by  the  Mississippi  Conference ;  and,  by  their 
request,  divided  by  Bishop  Emory  so  as  to  extend 

"  This  Course  may  be  found  iu  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Jour- 
nal, May  10,  1833. 


4:34  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1834. 

through  four  years,  thus  prescribing  studies  for  the 
candidates  for  elder's  orders  as  well  as  deacon's. 
This  plan  was  adopted  in  course  by  other  conferences 
till  it  became  general,  and  received  the  sanction  of 
all  the  bishops.  The  General  Conference  had  directed 
the  bishops  to  prescribe  studies  for  the  candidates  for 
deacons'  orders  only,  and  beyond  this  they  did  not 
claim  or  exercise  authority ;  but  as  the  whole  broad 
power  of  judgment,  as  to  fitness  or  qualification,  for 
the  elder's  office,  and  also  of  election  to  it,  had  been 
vested  in  the  annual  conferences,  they  judged  the 
prescribing  of  such  a  course  as  being  clearly  within 
the  legitimate  functions  of  an  annual  conference,  and 
it  therefore  had  their  hearty  cooperation. 

It  would  seem  that  the  bishops  here  were  acting 
within  the  most  unquestioned  limits  of  their  authority ; 
yet  their  course  was  subjected  to  not  only  strange 
inisrej)resentations,  but  the  most  virulent  opposition, 
which  degenerated  into  grave  personalities  in  rela- 
tion to  Bishop  Emory.  A  writer  in  the  Christian 
Advocate  and  Jom-nal,  signing  himself  "Proficio," 
was  the  principal,  and,  in  fact,  almost  the  only  assail- 
ant in  the  case. 

After  speaking  of  the  good  efi'ect  of  putting  candi- 
dates upon  a  two  years'  course,  and  subjecting  them 
to  a  rigid  examination,  he  adds :  "I  have  thought 
also,  that  were  a  com-se  of  study  prescribed  for  the 
thirds  and  even  fourth  year,  it  would  not  be  amiss ; 
but  as  the  General  Conference  has  not  provided  for 
this,  an  annual  conference,  and  much  less  an  examin- 


1834.]  ADMINISTKATION    IMPUGNED.  435 

ing  committee,  has  no  authority  to  require  it,  and 
surely  not  as  an  indispensable  condition  of  their 
reception  to  the  office  of  elders.  But  as  improve- 
ment is  the  order  of  the  day,  at  some  future  time 
this  may  be  provided  for  by  those  concerned.  As, 
however,  there  are  not  many  individuals  bold 
enough  to  '  assume  the  responsibility'  of  acting  above 
and  without  law,  the  limitation  to  two  years  of  this 
mental  discipline  must  be  observed  until  the  General 
Conference  shall  direct."  This,  of  course,  directly 
impugned  the  administration  of  the  bishops,  and  espe- 
cially of  Bishop  Emory,  as  well  as  the  action  of  the 
conferences  which  had  adopted  the  four  years'  course 
— ^representing  it  to  be  "  above  and  without  law." 
Bishop  Emory  replied,  explaining  and  vindicating 
the  action  of  the  episcopacy  and  of  the  conferences 
in  a  calm  and  temperate  manner.  The  editor  con- 
tradicts this  article  with  a  sort  of  editorial  vindica- 
tion of  "Proficio,"  whom,  oddly  enough,  he  calls  "  our 
correspondent,"  and  informs  him  that  the  columns 
of  the  paper  will  be  open  to  his  use,  "  provided  he 
writes  in  temperate  and  respectful  language."  This 
reply  appeared  in  the  following  number,  the  signature 
"Proficio"  having  been  dropped,  and  that  of  "A 
Member  of  the  ^Tew-York  Conference"  assumed.  In 
the  end  it  turned  out  that  "Proficio"  and  "om-  corre- 
spondent" were  one  and  the  same  as  the  senior  editor. 

Bishop  Hedding  did  not  feel  himself  necessitated 
to  make  any  public  defence  personally.  First,  be- 
cause the  insinuation  about  acting  "without  and 

19 


4:36 


LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF  HEDDIXG. 


[1834. 


above  law"  seemed  more  particularly  aimed  at 
Bishop  Emory;  then,  also,  lie  considered  that  the 
defence  of  their  administration  and  of  the  conferences 
was  in  good  hands ;  nor  was  he  unwilling  to  leave 
the  matter  to  be  adjudged  by  the  good  sense  of  the 
Church,  and  especially  by  the  proper  constituted 
authorities.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  from 
Bishop  Emory  to  Bishop  Hedding,  bearing  the  date 
of  October  25,  ISStt,  will  th  row  some  light  upon  this 
subject.  He  says  : — "  You  have  probably  seen  some 
communications  from  me  in  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal  in  defence  of  the  third  and  fom'th  yeai*s' 
course  of  study  for  candidates  for  elder's  ordei*s,  and 
how  they  have  been  treated.  If  there  was  anything 
in  the  matter  or  spirit  of  my  articles  to  justify  or 
require  such  rude  personalities  as  have  been  heaped 
on  me,  I  am  unconscious  of  it,  and  certainly  aimed 
to  write  otherwise.  My  last  communication,  too, 
was  accompanied  by  a  private  note,  assuring  the 
editor  that  I  was  actuated  by  no  pei*sonal  unkind- 
ness,  and  proposing,  if  my  communication  should  not 
be  satisfactory,  that  we  would  agree  on  some  short 
article  to  conclude  with  in  mutual  respect.  The 
notes  in  the  same  paper  with  my  article  were  the 
only  answer  I  received.  That  a  bishop  degrades 
himself,  and  divests  himself  of  the  episcopal  charac- 
ter, by  defending  publicly,  in  a  grave  and  respectful 
discussion,  any  important  measure  of  his  administra- 
tion, is  to  me  a  new  doctrine,  and  I  think  a  dangerous 
one.    On  the  contrary,  it  is  my  opinion  that,  as  gen- 


1834.]  LETTER   FROM   BISHOP   EMOKT.  437 


eral  superintendents,  we  have  a  right,  whenever  we 
think  the  interests  of  the  Church  require  it,  to  speak 
through  the  columns  of  the  Advocate  as  our  official 
organ;  and,  if  we  even  he  thought  in  error,  the 
Advocate  is  not  the  proper  medium  for  our  correc- 
tion. As  to  any  pei-sonal  attack  on  the  senior  editor, 
I  certainly  never  intended  any  such  thing,  and 
thought,  and  still  think,  I  said  enough  to  assure  him 
of  that.  If  he  had  at  any  time  disavowed  intending 
to  censure  the  measure  adopted  by  the  conferences 
with  our  sanction,  it  would  have  been  sufficient ;  but 
this  has  never  been  done — even  to  this  day.  On 
the  contrary,  it  has  been  averred  that  the  Advocate 
is  against  it,  which  I  think  a  perversion  of  the  design 
of  that  paper.  I  consider  the  measure  as  now  sanc- 
tioned, not  only  by  at  least  eight  conferences,  but 
by  all  the  acting  bishops.  A  similar  course  was 
adopted  by  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  in  1833,  under 
Bishop  Roberts's  administration,  and  in  1834  under 
Bishop  Soule's." 

Unpleasant  as  was  the  opposition  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  four  years'  course  of  study — an  opposition 
rendered  more  unpleasant  in  consequence  of  the 
source  from  which  it  originated,  and  the  spirit  in 
which  it  was  manifested — it  could  not  but  have  been 
gratifying  to  all  the  friends  of  sound  ministerial 
education  to  know  that  the  measure  won  its  way 
among  the  conferences,  and  finally  became  the  estab- 
hshed  policy  of  the  Church  by  authority  of  the 
General  Conference. 


4:38 


LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1831. 


In  tlie  same  letter  from  which  the  above  extract 
was  taken,  Bishop  Emory  solicits  the  opinion  of 
Bishop  Hedding  on  a  question  singular  enough — 
gi'owing  out  of  the  peculiar  relations  of  the  system 
of  slavery  to  the  Church  in  the  South.  "  The  South 
Carolina  Conference,"  says  he,  "  requests  the  opinion 
of  the  bishops  on  the  following  question.  I  will  pre- 
face it  by  stating  that  in  Charleston  the  usage — 
sanctioned,  as  I  am  informed,  by  Bishop  Asbury 
— ^has  been,  that  when  slaves  have  been  admitted 
into  the  Church,  the  husband  and  wife  then  acknowl- 
edged by  them  is  ever  after  to  be  so  considered. 
But  if  the  master  send  either  away  for  life  to  such  a 
distance  that  there  is  no  reason  to  expect  a  return, 
then  if,  after  a  year  or  more,  the  bereaved  husband 
or  wife  apply  for  permission  to  take  another  husband 
or  wife,  he  or  she  may  be  permitted,  not  advised, 
so  to  do.  If  afterward  the  fonner  husband  or  wife 
returns,  the  Church  never  interferes  in  the  question 
who  shall  be  the  acknowledged  husband  or  wife. 
You  are  aware,  too,  that  among  slaves  in  the  South 
— such  is  my  infonnation  at  least  as  to  the  South 
Carolina  Conference,  although  it  is  not  exactly  so  in 
Maryland — ^the  ceremony  of  marriage  strictly  is 
rarely  performed;  but  the  parties  take  each  other 
with  the  permission  of  their  mastei*s  and  the  knowl- 
edge of  their  friends.  The  question,  then,  is, — Sup- 
pose a  wicked  husband,  clearly  without  just  cause, 
deserts  his  wife — she  being  a  member  of  the  Church 
— and  notoriously  lives  with  another  woman ;  or  a 


1834.]       MARRIAGE   RELATION   OF   SLAVES.  439 

wicked  wife  deserts  her  husband — he  being  a  mem- 
ber of  our  Church — and  notoriously  lives  with  another 
man ;  may  the  deserted,  after  years  of  patient  wait- 
ing, be  permitted,  on  application,  to  take  another 
husband  or  wife,  as  the  case  may  be?  The  present 
usage  applies  only  to  cases  in  which  the  master^s 
act  causes  the  separation.  The  question  now  sub- 
mitted is  as  to  the  propriety  or  expediency  of  the 
extension  of  the  usage  to  any  cases  of  separation  by 
the  acts  of  the  parties.  Among  our  brethren  in  the 
South,  there  are  advocates  for  and  against  the  exten- 
sion, and  the  opinion  of  the  bishops  is  required  to 
settle  it.  You  are  aware  that  the  decision  will  apply 
to  similar  cases  in  all  the  slave-holding  states.  Please 
let  me  know  your  judgment  as  early  as  convenient, 
that  I  may  communicate  it  to  the  conference." 

What  Bishop  Hedding's  judgment  in  the  matter 
was  we  have  no  means  at  hand  to  enable  us  to  deter- 
mine, nor  are  we  curious  to  know.  We  give  the 
item  as  a  matter  of  historical  interest,  illustrating 
one  phase  of  the  relations  of  slavery  to  Christianity. 

During  this  year  the  Church  had  not  only  enjoyed 
great  peace,  but  great  prosperity.  The  Pittsburgh 
Conference  reported  an  increase  of  five  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy ;  the  Ohio,  seven  thousand 
three  hundred  and  eighty ;  the  Kentucky,  four  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirty-three ;  the  Illinois,  three 
thousand  one  hundred  and  three  ;  the  Indiana,  three 
thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-two  ;  the  Tennessee, 
five  thousand  one  hundred  and  ten ;  the  Alabama,  two 


440  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1835. 

thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-nine ;  the  Balti- 
more, three  thousand  two  hundred  and  nine;  the 
Oneida,  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  ten :  and  the 
general  increase  for  the  year  in  the  whole  Church  was 
thirty-thousand  and  forty-eight  in  the  membership, 
and  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  in  the  ministry — 
making  the  number  of  members  six  hundred  and 
thirty-eighty  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four, 
and  the  number  of  traveling  preachers  two  thousand 
six  hundred  and  twenty-five.  The  cause  of  education 
in  the  Church  was  also  strengthened  this  year  by 
the  establishment  of  M'Kendree  College  at  Lebanon, 
Illinois ;  and  also  by  the  addition  of  several  acade- 
mies in  different  parts  of  the  work.  The  publishing 
interests  in  IsTew-York,  and  also  at  the  branch  in 
Cincinnati,  had  continued  to  rapidly  develop  the 
vast  resources  of  their  power. 

In  1835,  Bishop  Hedding  met  the  Kew-York,  'New- 
England,  and  Troy  Conferences  in  company  with 
Bishop  Emory.  During  the  session  of  the  latter  con- 
ference at  Albany  he  visited  Troy,  and  preached  the 
dedication  sermon  of  the  Xorth-Second-street  Church, 
then  newly  erected.  To  Bishop  Emory  also  had  been 
assigned  the  Oneida  and  Genesee  Conferences ;  but 
owing  to  sickness  in  his  family  he  was  compelled  to 
return  home,  and  Bishop  Hedding  visited  those  con- 
ferences in  his  stead.  The  first  of  these  conferences 
he  met  at  Oswego,  September  24:th  ;  the  last  at  Lock- 
port,  October  14th.  He  reached  home  in  ITovember, 
where  he  remained  till  the  ensuing  January.  While 


1835.1       ECCLESIASTICAL   JURISPRUDENCE.  441 

at  Oswego  his  health  became  quite  poor,  so  much  so 
that  he  was  unable  to  preach ;  nor  did  he  fully  re- 
cover till  some  time  after  he  had  reached  home. 

The  gradual  development  of  our  system  of  ecclesi- 
astical jurisprudence  may  be  frequently  indicated  by 
incidental  occurrences,  especially  by  law  questions 
that  came  up  for  discussion  and  settlement.  A  ques- 
tion of  this  character,  and  one  which  even  now  is  of 
general  interest  to  the  Church,  came  up  at  the  session 
of  the  Oneida  Conference  this  year.  A  preacher  was 
charged  with  neglect  of  duty,  or  perhaps  maladmin- 
istration, in  that  he  did  not  himself  appoint  the  "  se- 
lect number"  to  try  a  member  in  a  case  of  Church 
trial,  but  left  it  to  the  society  to  elect  the  committee. 
The  preacher  impleaded,  in  his  defence  took  the 
position  that  he  had  a  right  to  leave  it  to  the  society 
to  elect,  inasmuch  as  the  rule  does  not  say  who  shall 
do  it.  Tlie  accusers  contended  that  the  principles  of 
the  Discipline  required  that  the  preacher  should  se- 
lect the  number,  and  not  leave  it  to  the  society,  and 
thereby  make  it  a  matter  of  strife.  They  alleged  that 
it  was"  dangerous  to  make  such  a  committee  elective ; 
because,  if  this  were  done,  rich  men,  officious  men, 
and  leaders  of  parties  would  be  likely  to  secure  the 
election  of  such  persons  as  would  serve  their  own  pur- 
poses, and  thus  the  innocent  might  be  condemned  or 
the  guilty  be  cleared.  The  conference  finally  referred 
it  as  a  question  of  law  to  the  bishop.  He  at  once 
decided  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  preacher  in  charge 
always  to  appoint  the    select  number"  to  try  accused 


442  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1835. 

members.  Among  tLe  reasons  he  offered  to  justify 
this  opinion  were,  that  formerly  the  preacher  was  the 
sole  judge  in  the  case,  and  decided  on  the  guilt  or 
innocence  of  accused  members ;  but  he  was  always 
obliged  to  hold  a  trial,  not  in  secret,  but  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  society  to  which  the  accused  person  be- 
longed, or  a  select  number  of  them.  But  the  preacher 
was  judge  both  of  law  and  evidence,  and  it  belonged 
to  him  to  decide  whether  he  would  hold  the  trial  in  the 
presence  of  the  whole  society,  or  of  a  select  number. 
When  the  General  Conference  changed  the  rule,  they 
took  from  the  preacher  nothing  but  the  power  to  de- 
cide on  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  accused,  and 
placed  that  power  in  the  hands  of  the  society,  or  a 
select  number  of  them.  Consequently  they  left  with 
the  preacher  all  the  other  powers  he  had  before,  and 
they  remain  with  him  still,  and  no  such  select  num- 
ber now  can  be  legally  appointed  but  by  the  preacher 
in  charge ;  and  if  in  any  case  he  allows  the  society  to 
elect,  that  election  can  be  regarded  only  as  a  nomi- 
nation. And  if  a  preacher  proceeds  to  investigate  a 
case,  and  try  an  accused  member  by  the  decision  of 
such  a  select  number,  by  that  act  he  appoints  those 
the  society  has  thus  nominated,  and  is  responsible  for 
it ;  and  if  any  mischief  is  done  through  the  appoint- 
ment of  improper  members,  the  preacher  in  charge 
must  answer  for  it.  This  decision  settled  the  ques- 
tion; "and,"  says  the  bishop,  "I  never  afterward 
heard  of  a  preacher  in  that  conference  allowing  the 
society  to  elect  the  select  number." 


1835.]     DEATH   OF   M'KENDKEE   AND   EMOEY.  443 

The  great  and  afflictive  events  in  the  history  of  the 
Church  this  year  were  the  death  of  two  of  the  bishops. 
Bishop  M'Kendree,  the  senior  in  office,  was  first  called 
away ;  and  then  Bishop  Emory,  the  junior  in  office, 
about  nine  months  after  was  stricken  down  by  death. 
The  former  was  in  the  seventy-eighth,  the  latter  in 
the  forty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree entered  the  ministry  at  the  age  of  thirty,  la- 
boured some  twenty-one  years  before  his  election  to 
the  episcopal  office,  and  in  that  office  served  the 
Church  almost  twenty-seven  years.  He  had  been 
tottering  on  the  borders  of  the  grave  for  several 
years,  and  his  death  was  therefore  not  unexpected. 
Bishop  Emory  was  born  the  same  year  M'Kendi-ee 
entered  the  ministry — 1788.  He  entered  the  ministry 
in  1810,  and  was  elected  to  the  episcopal  office  in 
1832.  In  his  arduous  and  successful  labours  he  was 
suddenly  cut  short, — being  thrown  from  his  carriage 
on  the  16th  of  December,  1835,  and  receiving  such  a 
severe  injury  in  his  head  that  he  was  insensible  when 
found,  and  died  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day. 
Only  six  days  before  this  fatal  catastrophe  he  wrote 
a  letter  to  Bishop  Hedding,  asking  his  counsel  in 
some  difficult  matters,  and  exhibiting  some  of  his 
plans  for  personal  usefulness,  and  especially  for  ad- 
vancing the  great  interests  of  the  Church. 

The  statistics  of  the  Church  this  year  show  an 
aggregate  membership  of  six  hundred  and  fifty-two 
thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-eight,  increase 
thirteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-four; 
*  19* 


444  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1835. 

niimber  of  traveUing  ministers  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  fifty-eight,  increase  one  hundred  and 
thirty-three. 

On  account  of  the  death  of  Bishop  Emory,  Bishop 
Hedding  was  called  to  preside  over  the  Yirginia  Con- 
ference, which  met  at  I^orfolk,  February  10th.  Some 
of  the  incidents  of  his  journey  are  thus  given: — "I 
took  stage  from  home  and  went  to  Providence,  Ehode 
Island ;  there  I  expected  to  find  a  steamboat  for  ]^ew- 
Tork;  but  Providence  harbour  being  frozen  up,  I 
continued  on  by  stage  to  New-London,  Connecticut. 
There  I  found  a  steamboat  bound  for  ITew-York. 
We  started  about  sunset,  with  a  violent  north-east 
wind.  About  dark  it  began  to  snow,  as  powerfully 
as  I  ever  saw  it.  Jii  a  short  time  no  object  was  to  be 
seen — neither  land  nor  lights.  I  went  to  the  pilot, 
with  whom  I  was  acquainted,  and  said,  'Howard, 
what  are  you  going  to  do?  you  can  neither  see  land 
nor  hghts.  There  are  many  rocks  and  islands  along 
the  bay,  and  are  you  going  to  keep  on  toward  ISTew- 
York  in  this  gale  V  He  said :  '  I  am  going  to  guess, 
as  nigh  as  I  can,  when  we  are  oflT  the  mouth  of  Con- 
necticut River.  If  we  happen  to  hit  the  mouth  of 
the  river  we  may  get  in  safe ;  but  if  we  go  one  side 
or  the  other  of  the  mouth  of  the  river,  we  shall  be 
likely  to  be  dashed  in  pieces.'  I  wrapped  myself  in 
my  great-coat  and  tied  on  my  hat,  and  went  upon 
deck ;  for  I  thought  if  we  went  to  the  bottom,  or 
were  broken  in  pieces,  I  would  rather  be  on  the  deck 
than  in  the  cabin.    There  I  continued,  the  wind 


1836.]  PROVIDENTIAL    DELIVERANCE.  445 

howling,  and  the  snow  falling,  and  we  conld  see  no 
object  beyond  the  vessel.  We  went  on.  After  a 
while  I  perceived  by  the  wind  that  the  vessel  was 
turning  her  course ;  and  also,  by  the  wind  appearing 
to  abate,  I  perceived  that  we  were  getting  under  the 
land.  They  began  to  sound,  and  proceed  more  slowly ; 
and  the  first  the  captain,  or  the  mate,  or  myself,  knew 
where  we  were,  the  bow  of  the  boat  struck  something 
hard,  and  stopped.  They  got  a  light  forward,  and 
found  that  we  had  struck  a  pier  at  Saybrook ;  but  we 
could  see  no  object  beyond  the  steamboat.  In  a  short 
time  a  pilot  came  on  board,  puJSing  and  blowing,  and 
said  he  was  awakened  a  few  minutes  before,  and  told 
that  a  Providence  steamboat  had  come  into  the  har- 
bour and  stove  all  to  pieces,  and  he  had  come  down 
to  see  what  the  matter  was,  and,  if  he  could,  to  afford 
relief.  The  captain  told  him  that  it  was  not  the 
Providence,  but  the  ISTew-London  boat,  and  that  we 
had  received  no  damage.  Here  we  lay  till  morning ; 
and,  when  daylight  appeared,  there  were  vessels,  and 
houses,  and  stores  within  a  few  rods  of  us.  The  next 
morning  the  snow  had  ceased,  the  weather  had  be- 
come warmer,  and  a  dense  fog  covered  the  land  and 
water.  We  proceeded  very  slowly,  sounding  and 
feeling  our  way  along  during  the  whole  day,  and  at 
night  had  only  reached  Cowbay.  Here  we  anchored 
for  the  night.  The  next  morning  the  fog  had  cleared 
away,  and  we  went  on  to  J^ew-York.  I  felt  thankful 
that  out  of  such  great  danger  the  hand  of  my  good 
Father  had  brought  me  safely.    From  New- York  I 


446  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1835. 

went  to  Philadelphia,  where  I  learned  that  I  could 
not  go  the  usual  route  to  Baltimore,  the  stages  having 
all  stopped  running,  and  I  went  round  b  j  York,  Penn- 
sylvania. I  was  yet  fifty  miles  from  Baltimore,  and 
there  was  no  stage.  Here  I  fell  in  with  an  old  friend, 
going  to  Baltimore,  and  we  hired  a  sleigh  and  two 
hoi*ses  to  carry  us  thither,  and  a  cold  ride  we  had. 
Tliis  day's  ride  gave  me  such  a  terrible  cold  and 
rheumatism  that  I  was  laid  up  at  Baltimore  for  a 
week.  During  that  time  Baltimore  harbour  had 
frozen  up,  so  that  no  boat  had  gone  for  a  number  of 
days.  They  fitted  up  an  ice-boat,  that  broke  through 
the  ice,  that  was  about  a  foot  thick,  for  seven  miles, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Tliis  took  a  whole  day, 
and  during  the  night  we  reached  Annapolis,  and  the 
next  morning  by  regular  steamboat  we  reached  Nor- 
folk. Having  been  detained  so  long  on  my  route, 
the  conference  had  already  commenced  its  session, 
though  little  business  had  been  done  except  attention 
to  some  difficult  questions  and  trials." 

From  ^^'orfolk  he  returned  to  Baltimore,  and  met 
that  Conference  on  the  9th  of  March.  Thence  he 
went  to  Philadelphia,  and  met  that  conference  on  the 
30th  of  the  same  month.  This  brings  us  in  our  nar- 
rative down  to  the  General  Conference  of  1836. 

The  progress  of  the  Church  during  the  four  years 
exhibited  these  results,  so  far  as  the  membership  and 
ministry  were  concerned : — ^Increase  of  members  for 
the  four  years,  one  liundred  and  thirty-nine  thousand 
four  hundred  and  foui-teen ;  of  ministers,  seven  hun- 


1835.]    CLOSE   OF   THE   THIRD    QUADRENNIAL.  447 

dred  and  forty-eight.  During  the  four  years,  also,  two 
hundred  and  forty-nine  preachers  had  located.  The 
great  number  of  locations  is  a  striking  commentary 
upon  the  hardships  and  privations  still  endured  in 
the  itinerant  work.  One  hundred  and  fourteen 
preachers,  including  two  bishops,  had  ceased  from 
their  labours  by  death.  The  uniform  record  of  their 
dying  experience  is,  that  the  religion  they  had 
preached  shed  its  heavenly  light  upon  the  closing 
scene,  and  they  departed  in  the  bright  prospect  of  a 
glorious  immortality. 


44:8  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1836. 


CHAPTEE  XY. 

FOURTH  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOURS. 

General  Conference  of  1836 — Representation  —  Death  of  M'Kendree  and  Em- 
ory—  Address  of  Bishops  Roberts  and  Hedding —  Hedding's  Remark  upon 
the  Administration  of  Discipline  —  Election  of  three  Bishops  —  Ordination 
of  Messrs.  Waugh  and  Morris  —  Vote  relating  to  Bishops  Roberts  and  Hed- 
ding—  Sundry  Measures  —  Adjournment  —  Bishop  Hedding's  Labours  for 
the  twelve  past  Years  —  Conferences  met  during  this  Year  —  Statistical 
Returns  —  Causes  assigned  for  declension  —  True  causes — Bishop  Hedding 
removes  from  Lynn  to  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.  —  Note  made  at  the  close  of 
the  Year's  Labour  —  Conferences  met  in  1837  —  An  Increase  reported  this 
Year  —  Import  of  Questions  propounded  to  Candidates  for  Deacon's  and 
Elder's  Orders  —  Labours  of  1838  — Visits  the  Grave  of  Benjamin  Abbott 

—  Protracted  Sessions  of  the  New-York  and  New-England  Conferences  — 
Visits  the  Northern  New-York  Conferences  —  Progress  of  the  Church 
this  Year  —  Conferences  attended  in  1839  —  Exhaustion  —  Misses  old 
Friends— Influence  upon  him —  Anti-Slavery  Excitement  — Course  he 
felt  obliged  to  pursue  —  Prosperity  of  the  Church  —  Close  of  the  Fourth 
Quadrennial  of  his  Labours  —  Some  Reflections  —  Death  of  Ministers 
during  the  four  Years — Mr.  Hedding's  old  Associates  —  John  Brodhead 

—  Martin  Ruter  — Oliver  Beale — Wilbur  Fisk  —  The  Dying  Testimonies 

—  Substantial  Prosperity  of  the  Church  —  Embarrassment  from  Locations 

—  Vitality  of  the  Methodist  System. 

From  Philadelphia  Bishop  Hedding  proceeded  to 
Cincinnati,  by  way  of  Pittsburgh,  to  attend  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.  Bishop  Roberts  opened  the  session 
in  the  usual  manner.  This  conference  was  composed 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  delegates,  distributed 
among  the  several  annual  conferences  as  follows, 
namely :  N'ew-York,  ten ;  New-England,  seven ;  Maine, 
eight ;  JSTew-Hampshire,  eight ;  Troy,  seven ;  Oneida, 
nine ;  Genesee,  seven ;   Pittsburgh,  eight ;  Ohio, 


1836.]  THE    GENERAL    CONFERENCE.  449 

twelve ;  Missouri,  four ;  Kentucky,  six ;  Illinois,  three ; 
Mississippi,  three ;  Indiana,  four ;  Holston,  four ;  Ten- 
nessee, eight;  Alabama,  four;  Georgia,  six;  South 
Carolina,  six;  Virginia,  eight;  Baltimore,  eleven; 
Philadelphia,  eleven.  We  have  already  noticed  the 
death  of  two  of  the  bishops — M'Kendree  and  Emory 
• — ^during  the  preceding  year.  Their  absence  produced 
a  profound  sensation,  not  only  in  the  minds  of  the 
remaining  bishops,  but  also  in  the  minds  of  the 
delegates  generally.  The  first  Friday  of  the  session 
was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  Bangs, 
in  his  History,  [vol.  iv,  p.  232,]  says  that  "  Bishops 
Roberts  and  Hedding  addressed  the  conference  very 
appropriately  and  feelingly  on  the  general  state  of 
the  work  of  God,  and  on  the  strict  manner  in  which 
discipline  should  be  administered,  in  order  to  keep 
the  Church  pure  from  immoral  members.  There 
was  one  point  especially  on  which  Bishop  Hedding 
insisted  with  emphasis,  as  devolving  a  high  duty  on 
those  to  whom  the  execution  of  discipline  was 
intrusted.  He  remarked  in  substance  that  it  was 
the  practice  of  some  preachers  to  wait  for  a  formal 
complaint,  containing  charges  and  specifications,  be- 
fore they  proceeded  to  the  trial  of  a  supposed  delin- 
quent member.  This  he  considered  a  defective  ad- 
ministration. As  the  minister  was  held  responsible 
for  the  state  and  character  of  the  Church,  it  became 
his  imperative  duty,  whenever  a  report  was  in  circula- 
tion against  a  member  of  the  Church,  to  institute  an 
inquiry  respecting  its  truth,  and  if  he  found  reason  to 


450  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   BEDDING.  [1836. 

believe  there  was  just  cause  of  complaint,  he  was 
bound  to  proceed  to  examine  and  try  the  case,  as  the 
Discipline  directs,  without  waiting  for  a  formal 
accusation.  ]^or  is  it  perceived  how  a  minister  can 
otherwise  discharge  his  high  trusts  so  as  to  give  a 
joyful  account  to  the  Judge  of  all  his  stewardship." 

The  conference  resolved  to  elect  three  additional 
bishops.  This  was  done  on  the  23d  of  May.  On 
the  first  balloting  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  votes 
were  cast ;  and  out  of  these  Beverly  Waugh  received 
eighty-five,  and  Wilbur  Fisk  seventy-eight,  and  were 
elected.  On  the  sixth  ballot  Thomas  A.  Morris 
received  eighty-six  votes,  and  was  also  elected.  Dr. 
Fisk  was  then  travelling  in  Europe.  Provision  was, 
however,  made  for  his  ordination;  but  in  view  of 
his  obligations  to  the  Wesley  an  University,  and  also 
of  his  declining  health,  he  finally  declined  the  office, 
and  before  another  General  Conference  he  had 
passed  away  from  the  Church  on  earth  to  the  Church 
in  heaven.  The  other  two,  after  a  sermon  by  Bishop 
Hedding,  were  solemnly  inducted  into  the  episcopal 
office,  and  have  continued  to  serve  the  Church  with 
unabated  zeal  and  fidelity  in  this  office  now  nearly 
twenty  years.  The  conference  requested  a  copy  of 
Bishop  Hedding's  sermon  for  publication,  but  we 
think  it  was  never  furnished. 

At  this  General  Conference  Bishop  Roberts,  whose 
health  had  become  feeble,  tendered  his  resignation 
of  the  episcopal  office  on  account  of  his  bodily 
infirmities.    The  conference  declined  accepting  his 


1836.]  TWENTY-EIGHT  ANNUAL  CONFERENCES.  451 

resignation,  but  passed  a  resolution  that  lie  shonld 
be  required  to  do  no  more  service  than  he  might 
find  consistent  with  his  health  and  bodily  strength. 
Subsequently  a  similar  resolution  was  passed  in  rela- 
tion to  Bishop  Hedding.  The  latter  had  entered 
the  ministry  one  or  two  years  before  the  "former, 
and  was  but  two  years  his  junior  in  age.  He  had 
also  performed  much  hard  service  through  many 
years,  and  now  not  only  the  weight  of  years,  but 
the  increasing  infirmities  of  a  broken  constitution 
began  to  weigh  heavily  upon  him.  It  was  for  tliis 
reason  that  the  General  Conference,  imsolicited  by 
him,  now  proposed  to  Hghten  the  burden  of  his 
labours. 

The  work  at  this  General  Conference  was  organ- 
ized into  twenty-eight  annual  conferences,  besides 
the  Mission  Conference  in  Liberia.  Tlie  conference 
also  adopted  two  measures  afiecting  the  administra- 
tion of  discipline,  which  we  must  not  fail  to  mention 
in  this  place.  The  fij*st  vested  in  an  annual  con- 
ference the  power  of  locating  any  one  of  its  mem- 
bers who,  in  the  judgment  of  the  body,  had  rendered 
himself  "unacceptable  as  a  travelling  preacher." 
He  was,  however,  allowed  the  privilege  of  an  appeal 
to  the  next  ensuing  General  Conference.  The  other 
measure  provided  for  the  trial  of  accused  super- 
annuated preachers  living  out  of  the  bounds  of  the 
conferences  of  which  they  were  membei*s.  This  was 
to  be  done  by  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district 
where  such  person  might  reside,  in  the  usual  form, 


452  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1836 

by  the  appointment  of  a  committee;  the  final  de- 
cision of  the  case  being  with  the  conference  of 
which  the  accused  person  was  a  member. 

The  educational  and  benevolent  enterprises  of  the 
Church  received  earnest  attention  at  this  session  of 
the  General  Conference,  and  strong  measures  were 
adopted  for  their  promotion. 

The  great  question,  however,  that  excited  the  most 
agitation,  and  occasioned  intense  interest,  grew  out 
of  the  relation  of  the  Church  to  the  system  of  slavery 
that  existed  in  the  southern  states.  As  Bishop  Hed- 
ding's  relations  to  this  subject  were  of  the  most  im- 
portant character,  we  shall  defer  the  whole  matter 
to  another  chapter,  in  order  to  present  a  distinct  and 
connected  view  of  it.  Tliis  becomes  necessary  in 
order  to  present  the  administration  of  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  in  its  true  light,  and  also  to  vindicate  both  his 
administration  and  his  personal  character  from  those 
aspersions  that  were  cast  upon  them. 

Having  accomplished  its  work,  the  General  Con- 
ference adjourned  on  the  27th  of  May.  It  may  not 
be  improper  at  this  point — when  we  may  consider 
the  most  laborious,  though  perhaps  not  the  most  try- 
ing, period  of  his  labours  ended — to  glance  back  over 
the  twelve  years  of  episcopal  service  already  ren- 
dered by  Bishop  Hedding.  In  doing  this,  we  must 
bear  in  mind  how  vastly  the  facilities  of  travel  have 
increased  since  that  period,  or  we  shall  obtain  very 
inadequate  notions  of  the  great  labour,  exposure,  and 
weariness  incident  to  the  long  journeys  he  was  called 


1836.]  DIFFICULTIES    OF   TRAVELLING.  453 

to  take.  ISTow  there  are  few  public  routes — north, 
south,  east,  or  west — that  do  not  afford  facilities,  by  rail- 
road or  steamboat,  for  easy  and  rapid  transportation. 
But  even  as  late  as  1836,  steamboats  were  found  only 
on  our  principal  waters ;  and  as  to  railroads,  there  were 
but  two  or  three  in  the  whole  country,  and  they  only 
connecting  points  not  very  far  removed  from  each 
other.  Indeed,  when  he  commenced  his  episcopal 
labours  there  was  scarcely  a  steamboat  to  be  found 
on  any  of  his  lines  of  travel.  His  journeys — when 
made  by  public  conveyance — were  principally  in 
stages.  His  long  journeys  were  more  frequently  in 
the  spring  and  autumn,  at  which  seasons  the  roads 
were  in  a  scarcely  passable  condition.  Those  who 
are  acquainted  with  stage-routes  only  on  beautifully 
Macadamized  turnpikes,  can  form  but  little  concep- 
tion of  the  slow  and  toilsome  work  of  staging  in  new 
counti-ies,  and  along  rough  and  miry  roads.  Some 
of  his  long  journeys  had  also  been  performed  in  his 
own  private  conveyance.  Thousands  of  miles  had  he 
ridden  alone,  in  storm  and  in  sunshine,  in  cold  and  in 
heat ;  sometimes  belated  and  lost  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  and  often  exposed  to  perils  by  the  way.  In 
this  way,  during  the  past  twelve  years,  he  had  trav- 
elled not  less  than  forty  thousand  miles.  He  had 
attended  four  general,  and  eighty-one  annual  confer- 
ences— the  latter  averaging  from  one  to  two  weeks. 
He  had  fixed  no  less  than  eight  thousand  appoint- 
ments, all  of  which  had  cost  him  care  and  anxiety, 
and  most  of  which  had  been  mutually  satisfactory  to 


454  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1836. 

both  preachers  and  people.  He  had  also  preached  a 
large  number  of  ordination  and  dedication  sermons, 
besides  almost  innumerable  sermons  on  his  jom*neys 
in  almost  every  part  of  the  country.  He  had  re- 
peatedly travelled  into  Canada,  and  had  special  care 
of  the  work  in  that  region  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  had  visited  the  Indian  missions  both  in  the  north 
and  the  south,  and  had  watched  over  theu-  progress 
with  intense  interest.  During  all  this  time  his  health 
had  been  far  from  being  sound,  and  often  he  had  been 
brought  down  to  the  verge  of  the  gi'ave.  More  than 
thi-ee-quarters  of  the  time, — or  more  than  nine  yeare 
out  of  the  twelve, — whether  in  health  or  in  sickness, 
he  had  been  absent  from  home,  and  deprived  of  its 
comforts  and  joys.  To  all  this  must  be  added  the 
innumerable  important  and  perplexing  questions  that 
required  almost  incessant  attention,  and  also  the  great 
and  crushing  responsibilities  of  an  office  which  im- 
posed upon  him  "the  care  of  all  the  Churches." 
"Could  I  have  foreseen,  in  1824,  all  I  should  have 
been  called  to  pass  through  in  this  period  of  twelve 
years, — in  view  of  my  infirmities,  and  of  my  unfitness 
for  so  great  a  labour, — I  certainly  should  have  per- 
sisted in  declining  the  office ;  but  'hitherto  God  hath 
helped  me,'"  were  his  reflections  as  from  this  point 
he  looked  back  over  his  past  labom-s  and  sufferings. 
But  humble  as  were  his  own  views  of  his  fitness  for 
the  office,  and  of  the  value  of  his  services  to  the 
Chm'ch,  he  had  already  won  a  name  for  wisdom  and 
piety,  as  well  as  for  exalted  and  useful  labours,  that 


1836.] 


STATISTICAL  RETURNS. 


455 


secured  for  him  the  unbounded  confidence  of  the 
whole  Church,  and  gave  him  an  influence  rarely  if 
ever  wielded  by  any  other  individual. 

At  the  close  o{  the  General  Conference  Bishop 
Redding  returned  to  the  East,  and  met  the  following 
conferences,  namely : — ^The  New- York  Conference  at 
Brooklyn,  June  22d;  the  ITew-England  Conference 
at  Springfield,  July  13th ;  the  Maine  Conference  at 
Portland,  August  3d ;  and  the  New-Hampshire  Confer- 
ence at  Montpelier,  Yermont,  August  31.  These  four 
conferences  were  all  that  had  been  assigned  to  him  for 
the  year.  In  three  of  these  conferences  there  had  been 
a  decrease  of  membership, — ^in  the  New- York,  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty-eight ;  in  the  Maine,  of  five  hun- 
dred and  thirty-nine ;  and  in  the  New-Hampshire,  of 
eighteen ;  while  in  the  New-England  Conference  the 
increase  was  but  nine  hundred  and  eleven:  so  that 
the  total  decrease  in  the  four  conferences  was  one 
hundred  and  four.  Indeed,  this  year  seemed  to  be 
one  of  general  declension  in  the  Church.  In  the 
Pittsburgh,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Blinois,  South  Carolina, 
New-England,  and  Alabama  Conferences,  there  was 
an  increase  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  six  thou- 
sand seven  himdred  and  fifty-two;  while  in  the 
Kentucky,  Holston,  Tennessee,  Georgia,  Yirginia, 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New- York,  Maine,  New- 
Hampshire,  Oneida,  Genesee,  Mississippi,  there  was 
a  decrease  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  ten  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  two, — leaving  a  decrease  in 
the  membership  of  the  Church  of  four  thousand  one 


456  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1836. 

hundred  and  fifty.  Such  are  the  results  we  obtain 
from  a  careM  inspection  of  the  data,  though  they  do 
not  exactly  agree  with  the  aggregate  results  in  the 
published  Minutes  for  that  year.  This  result — so 
unusual  in  the  history  of  Methodism — was  sought  to 
be  accounted  for  upon  various  hypotheses.  A  survey 
of  the  results  in  the  several  conferences  would  indi- 
cate that,  whatever  the  cause  might  be,  it  was  general 
rather  than  local.  A  careful  analysis  of  the  returns 
for  the  few  years  immediately  preceding,  brings  to 
light  the  fact  that  those  conferences  now  presenting 
the  most  alarming  diminution  of  numbers,  had  within 
those  few  years  reported  at  ditferent  times  an  extra- 
ordinary increase.  In  those  times  of  religious  ex- 
citement, multitudes  undoubtedly  had  been  gathered 
into  the  Church  who  were  but  poorly  instructed  in 
the  doctrines  and  duties  of  religion,  and  but  poorly 
prepared  to  stand  the  trial  of  faith  and  of  patience  to 
which  they  would  inevitably  be  subjected  in  their 
religious  experience.  Accordingly,  in  "the  time  of 
temptation  they  fell  away ;"  or  in  the  time  of  "  sift- 
ing" they  were  blown  away  like  chaff  from  the 
Church.  It  may  be  seriously  doubted  whether  the 
Church  was  not  in  even  a  more  healthful  condition, 
and  one  equally  compatible  with  sound  and  perma- 
nent prosperity,  than  when  she  was  numbering  her 
converts  by  tens  of  thousands.  The  causes  assigned 
for  this  declension,  in  the  journals  of  that  day,  were 
weak  and  fiimsy  enough.  Some  asserted  that  it  had 
been  occasioned  by  the  anti-slavery  excitement  that 


1837.]  REMOVES   TO    L  ANSINGBURGH.  457 

was  then  agitating  some  portions  of  the  Church. 
Others,  that  the  curse  of  God  was  falling  upon  the 
Church  because  of  its  relations  to  "  the  great  evil." 
But  both  these  assigned  reasons  seemed  put  to  the 
blush  by  the  fact  that  the  N'ew-England  Conference, 
where  the  greatest  anti-slavery  agitation  existed,  and 
the  South  Carolina  Conference,  which  was  more 
deeply  complicated  in  the  great  evil  perhaps  than 
any  other — each  reported  a  very  respectable  increase 
in  their  numbers.  The  other  causes  suggested  were 
insufficient  to  solve  the  difficulty ;  for  they  had  ex- 
isted, and  were  exerting  all  their  force,  even  in  the 
time  of  the  great  and  rapid  increase  of  members  in 
the  Church.  All  these  considerations  lead  us  to 
believe  that  we  have  presented  the  true  cause  of  this 
decline  in  numbers. 

Having  completed  his  conference  labours  for  the 
year.  Bishop  Hedding  removed  his  residence  from 
Lynn,  Mass.,  to  Lansingburgh,  Y.  Early  in 
October,  after  he  had  got  settled  in  his  new  home, 
he  made  the  following  memorandum : — "  On  looking 
over  my  minutes,  I  find  I  have  travelled,  during  the 
last  nine  months,  about  five  thousand  three  hundred 
and  ninety  miles.  These  journeys  have  been  per- 
formed in  steamboats,  canal-boats,  stages,  wagons, 
and  by  rail-roads.  When  I  consider  the  many  dan- 
gers through  which  I  have  passed,  and  how  mer- 
cifully I  have  been  preserved,  I  cannot  but  wonder 
at  the  goodness  of  God  to  me.  Truly  it  becomes 
me  to  adore  the  unseen  hand  which  has  protected 


458  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

me  from  death,  and  kept  me  still  in  the  land  of  the 
living." 

The  winter  of  1836-7  was  spent  in  visiting  the 
societies  in  the  vicinity  of  Lansingburgh,  and  the 
discharge  of  such  other  duties  as  his  office  imposed 
upon  him. 

The  ensuing  spring  he  met  the  Xew-York  Confer- 
ence, in  company  with  Bishop  Waugh,  and  at  his 
urgent  request,  at  Brooklyn,  May  17th.  From  Brook- 
lyn he  returned  to  Troy,  where  he  met  that  conference 
May  31st.  After  this  he  rejoined  Bishop  Waugh, 
and  met  the  Xew-England  Conference  at  Xantucket, 
June  7th.  On  the  5th  of  July  he  met  the  Xew- 
Hampshire  Conference  at  Great  Falls  ;  and  on  the  9th 
of  August  the  Black  Eiver  Conference  at  Potsdam. 
During  the  session  of  this  last-named  conference  a 
gracious  revival  of  religion  took  place,  and  many  of 
the  citizens  of  the  place  were  converted  to  God.  At 
Courtlandville  he  met  the  Oneida  Conference,  August 
30th,  and  afterward  the  Genesee  Conference  at  Perry, 
September  20th.  From  Peny  he  returned  home, 
which  he  reached  October  9th,  and  here  he  spent 
the  winter  in  his  usual  manner;  only,  his  health 
being  very  much  impaired,  he  went  abroad  but  little. 

The  year  had  not  passed  away  without  some  pros- 
perity. The  total  membei*ship  of  the  Church  was 
six  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thousand  five  hundred 
and  seventy-four,  being  an  increase  of  five  thousand 
five  hundred  and  forty-two,  including  the  Liberia 
Mission.    The  number  of  travelling  preachers  was 


1837.] 


ORDINATION  VOWS. 


459 


now  three  tliousand  one  hundred  and  forty-seven, 
being  an  increase  of  two  hundred  and  eighteen. 
For  the  first  time,  the  local  preachers  are  reported 
this  year  distinct  from  the  members.  They  num- 
bered four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-four. 

Early  in  the  present  year  Bishop  Hedding  fur- 
nished the  following  communication  for  the  Christian 
Advocate  and  Journal : — "  At  the  last  session  of  the 
IsTew-England  Conference,  I  was  requested  by  a 
member  of  that  body,  and  in  the  presence  of  the 
cenference,  to  give  an  explanation  of  the  promises 
our  preachers  make  at  the  time  of  their  ordination, 
when  the  following  questions  are  proposed  to  them, 
and  when  they  return  the  subjoined  answers : — ■ 

"  '  Ordination  of  Deacons. — Will  you  reverently 
obey  them  to  whom  the  charge  and  government 
over  you  is  committed,  following  with  a  glad  mind 
and  will  their  godly  admonitions  ? 

"  '  Answer.  I  will  endeavour  so  to  do,  the  Lord 
being  my  helper.' 

"  '  Ordination  of  Elders. — Will  you  reverently 
obey  your  chief  ministers,  unto  whom  is  committed 
the  charge  and  government  over  you ;  following  with 
a  glad  mind  and  will  their  godly  admonitions,  sub- 
mitting yourselves  to  their  godly  judgments? 

"  'Answer.  I  will  so  do,  the  Lord  being  my  helper.' 

"  The  explanation,  as  nearly  as  I  can  remember, 
was  in  the  following  words : — 

"  The  ofiicers  in  the  Church  whom  the  persons  to 
be  ordained  promise  to  obey,  are, — 
20 


460  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1837. 

"  1.  The  preachers  in  charge  of  cii'cmts  and 
stations.  Thej  are  to  see  that  the  other  preachers 
in  their  circuits  behave  well,  &c.  (Discipline,  p.  58.) 
And  the  promise  is  binding  on  the  other  preachers 
in  the  circuits  and  stations. 

2.  The  Presiding  Eldei*s.  They  are  to  take  charge 
of  all  the  eldei*3  and  deacons  in  their  districts.  (Dis- 
cipline, p.  43.)  And  the  promise  is  binding  on  the 
ordained  preachers  in  a  district. 

3.  The  Bishops.  They  are  '  to  ovei-see  the  spirit- 
ual business  of  our  Chm'ch.' 

'*  But  to  what  class  of  actions  does  the  term 
'obey'  refer?  Xot  to  keeping  or  breaking  any 
moral  rule,  or  any  special  rule  laid  down  in  the 
Discipline,  for  these  rules  are  enforced  by  other 
authorities ;  nor  to  actually  doing  what  are  acknowl- 
edged to  be  duties,  for  all  we  are  to  do  is  required 
in  the  word  of  God  and  in  the  Discipline,  and, 
therefore,  is  not  a  subject  of  advice.  But  the  term 
'obey'  refers  to  abstaining  from  an  act  which  is 
deemed  by  the  superior  in  office  to  be  improper, 
though  it  may  not  be  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  or  in 
the  Discipline,  and  against  which  the  senior  in  office 
admonishes  the  junior,  and  from  doing  which  he 
counsels  him  to  desist.  Such,  for  instance,  as  preach- 
ing or  lecturing  on  party  pohtics — offering,  as  it  is 
termed  in  some  parts  of  the  country — at  elections 
for  civil  office,  or  dehvering  what  have  been  called 
Stump  Lectures. 

"  But  it  is  possible  the  chief  minister  may  err,  and 


1837.] 


OBLIGATIONS    OF  MEMBERS. 


461 


administer  unwise  advice,  or  oppressive  admoni- 
tion ;  and  what  is  to  be  done  in  that  case  ?  Is  the 
junior  to  say,  'I  know  as  much  as  you,'  and  dis- 
obey ?  No :  for  he  has  promised  to  '  obey.'  He 
must  submit  to  the  directions  of  his  senior  in  office 
till  the  next  conference,  and  if  an  error  has  been 
committed  by  the  preacher  in  charge,  or  by  the  pre- 
siding elder,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  conference  to  cor- 
rect it.  And  if  the  error  is  committed  by  a  bishop, 
the  duty  of  a  preacher  who  has  been  aggrieved 
by  it  is  to  bear  it  as  a  burden  till  the  next  General 
Conference/  to  whom  the  bishop  is  accountable, 
then  lay  the  subject  before  that  body,  and  a  suitable 
correction  will  doubtless  be  administered." 

The  occasion  of  the  pubHcation  of  these  com- 
ments was,  first,  the  request  of  the  conference ;  and, 
secondly,  the  fact  that  they  had  been  misunderstood 
and  misrepresented  by  persons  that  heard  them,  and 
also  the  positions  taken  in  them  had  been  gravely 
questioned.  To  his  communication  the  bishop  adds 
the  following  note  : — "  Every  member  of  the  Church 
is  under  an  obhgation  as  strong  as  those  promises, 
and  he  must  do  as  much  as  those  promises  engage 
to  do  or  he  will  never  obey  the  word  of  God. 
'Likewise,  ye  younger,  submit  yourselves  unto  the 
elder.'  1  Peter  v,  5 ;  '  Obey  them  that  have  the  rule 
over  you,  and  submit  yourselves.'  Heb.  xiii,  17. 
There  can  be  no  good  government  in  the  Church 
without  as  gi*eat  a  degree  of  submission  as  this." 

The  labours  of  the  year  1838  were  very  similar  to 


462  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

those  he  had  performed  during  several  preceding 
years.  He  met  the  Philadelphia  Conference  at  Wil- 
mington, Delaware,  April  4th;  the  IN'ew-Jersey  at 
Bridgeton,  April  25th  ;  the  ISTew-York  at  Xew-York, 
May  16th ;  the  E'ew-England  at  Boston,  June  6th ; 
and  the  Maine  at  Wiscassett,  June  27th.  The  anti- 
slavery  excitement  had  run  high  during  the  preced- 
ing year,  and  had  occasioned  much  trouble  in  several 
of  the  conferences.  Referring  to  the  session  of  the 
Philadelphia  Conference  of  this  year.  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  says :  "  Considering  the  excitement  I  had  seen 
in  the  conferences  I  had  visited  the  latter  part  of  the 
preceding  year,  this  was  a  session  of  great  refreshing 
on  account  of  the  harmony  and  peace  attending  it. 
It  had  been  a  year  of  great  revival  within  the  bounds 
of  the  conference.  Many  sinners  had  been  converted, 
and  the  work  of  sanctification  had  been  progressing 
among  both  members  and  ministers.  Many  of  the 
latter  came  up  to  the  conference  from  all  parts  of  the 
work,  baptized  with  the  true  spirit  of  their  mis- 
sion." 

On  his  way  from  the  Philadelphia  to  the  ISTew- 
Jersey  Conference,  he  visited  Salem,  New-Jersey. 
The  object  of  peculiar  interest  that  atti*acted  his  at- 
tention here  was  connected  with  the  memory  of 
Benjamin  Abbott.  Here  he  lived  and  laboured  as 
a  local  preacher,  before  he  began  his  wonderful 
career  as  an  itinerant ;  and  to  this  place  he  returned 
when  broken  health  compelled  him  to  desist  from 
travelling.     Here  also  he  died,  and  was  buried. 


1838.]      THE   GKAYE   OF   BENJAMIN   ABBOTT.  463 


Says  Bishop  Hedding :  "I  visited  the  place  '  where 
they  laid  him,'  and  I  could  not  but  think,  as  I  stood  by 
his  grave,  of  the  wonderful  character  of  the  man,  of 
the  mighty  power  with  which  he  preached  Jesus  and 
the  resuiTection,  of  the  great  work  he  accomplished 
in  the  Church,  and  of  the  time  when  he  laid  his  hand 
upon  my  head  and  gave  me  such  a  tremendous  ex- 
hortation in  the  class-meeting  on  Dutchess  Circuit 
nearly  fifty  years  ago.  I  shall  soon  follow  him  to  the 
grave  ;  but  I  trust  I  shall  be  permitted  to  see  him  in 
the  kingdom  of  his  God  and  my  God." 

The  sessions  of  the  E'ew-York  and  New-England 
Conferences  this  year  were  exceedingly  protracted 
and  exciting.  The  former  lasted  fifteen  days,  and 
the  latter  seventeen.  As  these  difiiculties  originated 
mainly  with  the  ultraism  of  individuals  connected 
with  the  anti-slavery  movement  as  well  as  the  ultra- 
ism of  their  opponents,  we  shall  consider  them  in  that 
connexion. 

After  the  session  of  the  Maine  Conference,  Bishop 
Hedding  returned  to  Lansingburgh.  Here  he  rested 
a  few  days  and  then  left  home  again,  and  accom- 
panied Bishop  Morris  to  the  Black  River  Conference, 
held  at  Fulton,  August  1st;  to  the  Oneida,  held  at 
Ithaca,  August  22d ;  and  to  the  Genesee,  held  at  El- 
mira,  September  12th.  "  After  passing  through  the 
business  of  this  conference,"  says  he,  "  Bishop  Morris 
and  I  parted — ^he  for  his  home  in  Ohio,  I  for  mine  in 
Lansingburgh.  I  travelled  on,  preaching  to  the  peo- 
ple by  the  way,  and  reached  home  the  last  of  Sep- 


464:  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1839. 

tember.  Glory  be  to  God  for  liis  preserving  mercy 
and  supporting  grace !" 

The  year  had  been  one  of  considerable  prosperity 
in  the  Church.  Several  of  the  conferences  had  re- 
ported very  large  accessions.  Among  them,  the 
Dlinois  had  reported  an  increase  of  three  thousand 
three  hundred  and  sixteen ;  the  Indiana,  three  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  thirty-eight ;  the  Philadelphia, 
three  thousand  and  forty-two;  the  I^ew-York,  two 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-six ;  the  Tennessee, 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-three ;  the 
Maine,  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-nine ; 
the  Troy,  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty- two ; 
the  Erie,  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-nine ; 
the  Oneida,  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  ;  and  the  Genesee,  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  ninety-six.  The  total  increase  of  membera  for  the 
year — ^including  local  preachers,  of  which  there  were 
five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-two — was 
forty-three  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-five, 
making  an  aggregate  of  six  hundred  and  ninety-six 
thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-nine.  The  increase 
of  travelling  preachers  for  the  year  was  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five,  making  three  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-six  in  all. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1839,  Bishop  Hedding  left 
home  to  resume  his  episcopal  labours.  He  visited 
the  Philadelphia  Conference,  over  which  Bishop 
"Waugh  presided,  and  afterward  accompanied  the 
latter  to  Baltimore  on  business  of  the  Church.  After 


1839.] 


TOIL    AND  INFIRMITY. 


465 


this  lie  met  tlie  K^ew-Jersey- Conference  at  Trenton, 
April  24tli ;  the  JSTew-York,  at  Brooklyn,  May  14th ; 
the  Troy,  at  Schenectady,  June  5th ;  the  Xew-Hamp- 
shire,  at  Sandwich,  Jnly  3d;  the  Black  Eiver,  at 
Turin,  July  31st;  the  Oneida,  at  Norwich,  August 
21st ;  and  the  Genesee,  at  Rochester,  September  11th. 

This  episcopal  tour,  in  his  enfeebled  state  of  health, 
was  exceedingly  laborious  and  trying.  At  the  Black 
Eiver  Conference  he  became  so  exhausted  that  he 
was  obliged  to  retire  from  the  conference  room  before 
the  adjournment,  leaving  the  conference  to  finish  its 
business  and  the  secretary  to  read  the  appointments. 
Yet  amid  all  tliese  infirmities  he  toiled  on, — feeling 
that  his  time  of  labour  was  growing  short, — desir- 
ing, above  all  things,  to  do  the  work  God  had  given 
him  to  do.  "  During  the  past  year,"  said  he,  "  many 
of  my  old  friends  have  finished  their  course  and  gone 
to  rest  in  Abraham's  bosom.  It  deeply  afi'ects  me, 
in  my  rounds,  to  learn  that  one  after  another  has 
passed  away  from  earth.  These  things  admonish  me 
to  be  ready  also.  Let  me  be  up  and  doing.  I  have 
but  little  time  in  which  to  work.  Lord,  prepare  me 
to  render  an  account  of  my  stewardship."  Impelled 
by  this  feeling,  he  would  toil  on  till  exhausted  nature 
compelled  him  to  lie  down  and  rest.  Refreshed  by 
rest  and  by  communion  with  God,  he  would  again 
rise  up  and  press  forward  in  his  toilsome  way.  These 
labours  were  rendered  to  him  more  exhausting  and 
trying  from  the  excitement  which  at  this  time  ex- 
isted on  the  subject  of  slavery. 


466  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1839. 

Ultra  and  radical  ground  liad  been  taken,  and 
agitating  measnres  adopted  by  the  leaders  in  that 
movement,  which,  he  sincerely  believed,  threatened 
the  peace  and  integrity  of  the  Church,  while  at  the 
same  time  they  could  be  productive  of  little  good  to 
the  enslaved.  The  measures  he  had  felt  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  take,  in  order  to  guard  the  sacred  interests  of 
the  Church  committed  to  his  charge,  were  in  conflict 
with  the  views  and  measures  of  these  leaders  in  the 
anti-slavery  movement.  For  this  he  was  assailed  by 
them  with  a  shameful  virulence ;  his  acts  and  words 
were  perverted  and  misrepresented ;  and  his  course, 
to  a  very  great  extent,  misunderstood.  All  this  was 
the  more  trying  to  him,  as  several  who  had  once  pro- 
fessed great  friendship  for  him  were  now  his  most 
violent  enemies  and  traducers.  Excitement  was  rife 
everywhere,  and  he  knew  not  what  he  might  be  called 
to  encounter  in  the  midst  of  the  whirlwind  that  had 
been  raised.  The  reader  will  not  wonder,  then,  that 
the  labours  of  the  few  past  years  had  been  performed 
under  a  crushing  sense  of  responsibility,  and  with  in- 
cessant and  wearing  anxiety. 

"While  at  the  Oneida  Conference  this  year  the  fol- 
lowing beautiful  incident  occurred,  at  once  illustra- 
tive of  the  general  character  and  of  the  deep  and 
ardent  piety  of  Bishop  Hedding.  We  give  it  as  we 
have  received  it  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Paddock,  long 
the  intimate  personal  friend  of  the  bishop.  "  At  this 
session  of  the  Oneida  Conference,"  says  he,  "  I  was 
quartered  at  the  same  house  with  the  venerable 


1839.]  A   BEAUTIFUL   INCIDENT.  467 

bishop.  As  I  was  going  out  to  public  worship,  on 
Sunday  evening,  he  said  to  me,  '  Brother,  I  wish  you 
would  excuse  me  from  accompanying  you,  I  am  so 
much  fatigued ;  and  then  you  know  the  exhausting 
labours  of  the  closing  part  of  the  conference  are  still 
before  me,  and  I  must  recruit  and  prepare  for  them.' 
In  truth  I  had  no  thought  of  his  accompanying  me ; 
for  I  knew  he  had  not  only  preached  a  long  and 
fatiguing  sermon  that  day,  but  had  ordained  both  the 
elders  and  the  deacons.  The  circumstance,  however, 
shows  what  was  always  an  amiable  trait  in  his  gen- 
eral character — ^his  tender  regard  for  the  feelings  of 
others.  He  was  studiously  careful  never  to  say  a 
word  or  perform  an  action  which  would  be  likely  to 
give  pain  to  any  human  being,  save  only  when  it  was 
clearly  apparent  that  the  interests  of  religion  de- 
manded that  sort  of  discipline,  and  then  the  infliction 
was  ever  accompanied  with  so  much  tenderness  that 
even  the  subject  of  it  was  obliged  the  more  to  re- 
spect him. 

The  public  service  of  the  evening  performed,  I 
returned  to  our  mutual  lodgings.  Finding  the  cham- 
ber of  the  good  bishop  unilluminated,  and  presuming 
he  had  retired  to  rest,  I  determined  to  pass  through 
his  room — which  I  was  obliged  to  do  in  order  to 
reach  my  own  dormitory — as  quietly  as  possible,  so 
as  not  to  disturb  him.  As  soon  as  I  opened  the  door, 
however,  I  heard  his  tender  voice  in  the  opposite  end 
of  the  room,  saying,  '  Brother,  please  be  seated  while 
I  light  a  lamp.  You  will  find  a  chair  to  the  left  of 
20^ 


468  LIFE    AXD   TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1839. 

the  door.'  The  venerable  old  gentleman  experienced 
some  little  difficultj  in  igniting  his  match,  but  finally 
succeeded  in  lighting  the  lamp,  when  he  said:  'I 
have  been  sitting  here  by  this  open  window,  enjoy- 
ing the  cool  air,  [the  evening  was  excessively  warm,] 
and  examining  this  poor  heart  of  mine,  to  see  whether 
it  loves  the  blessed  Jesus  as  much  as  it  used  to.' 
After  a  moment's  pause,  he  added,  his  voice  tremu- 
lous with  deep  emotion,  '  And  I  think  it  does,  full  as 
much — yes,  a  little  more  than  it  ever  did  before.' 
These  were  his  precise  words — words  which  I  can  no 
more  forget  than  I  can  forget  that  I  ever  saw  the 
man. 

"  Seating  himself,  he  continued  to  speak  of  his  own 
past  experience  with  a  freedom  and  a  pathos  which 
were  at  once  most  delightful  and  most  edifying. 
Among  other  things,  he  said, ' I  do  not  know  whether 
it  is  so  with  others,  but  I  often  find  great  spiritual 
comfort  in  reading  our  hymns.  They  contain  a 
depth,  a  concentration  of  meaning,  which  comes 
home  to  the  soul  with  a  kind  of  divine  power. 
Though  I  cannot  substitute  them  for  the  inspired 
word,  I  frequently  read  them  with  a  view  to  religious 
edification,  as  well  as  from  a  regard  to  their  unsur- 
passed poetical  beauty.' 

"The  afternoon  sermon  that  day  had  turned  chiefly 
on  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  the  exercises  were 
closed  with  that  incomparable  hymn,  commencing, 


**  He  dies,  the  Friend  of  sinners  dies." 


1840.]       CLOSE    OF   FOURTH    QUADRENNIAL.  469 

To  that  hymn  the  bishop  particularly  referred,  and 
spoke  of  it  as  one  of  the  finest  in  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  as  often  having  been  a  blessing  to  his  own 
soul.  He  repeated  the  whole  of  it  with  the  greatest 
force  and  propriety,  and  pointed  out  its  principal 
beauties  with  the  nicest  discrimination." 

After  returning  from  the  Genesee  Conference, 
Bishop  Hedding  visited  ITew-York  and  Brooklyn, 
but  afterward  was  confined  at  home  through  the 
winter,  his  physical  strength  being  very  much  ex- 
hausted, and  he  being  greatly  afflicted  by  the  return 
of  his  old  rheumatic  complaint. 

The  year  had  been  very  similar  to  the  preceding, 
so  far  as  the  prosperity  of  the  Church  was  concerned. 
The  total  membership  was  reported  at  seven  hundred 
and  forty  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  being 
an  increase  of  forty-three  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
ten ;  the  number  of  travelling  preachers  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  fifty-seven,  increase  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  ;  number  of  local  preachers  five 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six,  increase  sixty- 
four. 

In  the  spring  of  1840  he  assisted  Bishop  Waugh  at 
the  Philadelphia  Conference,  which  met  at  Philadel- 
phia, April  1st ;  and  also  at  the  New- J ersey  Confer- 
ence, at  Burlington,  April  15th.  This  brought  him 
to  the  close  of  the  fourth  quadrennial  of  his  episcopal 
labours.  "  Tlirough  God's  mercy,"  said  he, I  am  yet 
alive.  What  toils  and  trials  I  have  passed  through 
during  the  past  sixteen  years!    How  graciously  I 


470  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  L1840. 

have  been  preserved  in  my  long  and  wearisome  jour- 
neys. How  mercifully  I  have  been  sustained  in  the 
midst  of  trials  and  cares.  My  old  and  early  asso- 
ciates have  many  of  them  passed  away.  M'Kendree, 
George,  and  Emory,  I  shall  meet  no  more  on  earth. 
My  work  too  will  soon  be  done.  The  growing  in- 
firmities of  age  admonish  me  that  my  time  is  grow- 
ing short.  O,  how  my  soul  longs  for  greater  meet- 
ness  for  heaven!  Especially  have  the  last  two  or 
three  years,  on  account  of  the  great  commotions 
which  distract  the  peace  and  threaten  to  sunder  the 
union  of  the  Church  of  God,  been  years  of  great  per- 
sonal affliction  and  trial  to  me.  But  God  is  my  refuge. 
God  is  the  refuge  and  the  deliverer  of  his  Church. 
His  will  be  done.  This  thing  encourages  me  for  the 
Church  :  God  has  delivered  her  from  a  thousand  dan- 
gers, and  he  is  still  able  to  deliver.  It  also  encourages 
me  for  myself  that  our  preachers  die  well." 

In  looking  over  the  Minutes  for  the  four  years,  we 
find  that  death  had  been  busy  along  the  ranks  of 
Zion's  watchmen.  ^^"0  less  than  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  had  faUen — some  of  them  young  men  who 
had  just  entered  the  field,  others  veterans,  who  had 
toiled  long  and  hard  in  the  work.  Among  the  latter 
were  some  of  the  early  associates  of  Bishop  Hedding. 
Such  was  John  Brodhead,  whose  early  and  paternal 
regard  for  the  subject  of  our  memoir  has  already 
been  noticed.  Bishop  Hedding  fully  responded  to 
the  record  of  his  contemporaries: — "Brother  Brod- 
head was  a  good  man  ;  deeply  pious,  and  ardently  and 


1840.] 


DEATH    OF   LEADING  MEN. 


471 


sincerely  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  Chnrch  and 
the  world.  It  is  known  to  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  iintaiTQshed  excellencies  of  his  character, 
that  a  great  man  and  a  prince  has  fallen  in  Israel." 
Such  was  Martin  Ruter,  D.  D.,  who  entered  the 
ministry  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen — ^the  class-mate 
of  Iledding,  having  with  him  joined  the  ISTew-York 
Conference  in  1801.  He  was  no  ordinary  man. 
Commencing  his  career  with  little  more  than  a  com- 
mon-school education,  while  performing  the  duties 
of  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher  he  became  well 
versed  in  languages,  science,  and  history.  In  1818 
and  1819  he  was  principal  of  the  Xew-Market  Wes- 
leyan  Academy;  then  he  served  two  terms  in  the 
Western  book-agency,  and  was  subsequently  presi- 
dent, first  of  Augusta  College,  then  of  Alleghany, 
which  latter  office  he  resigned  to  enter  upon  the 
superintendency  of  the  missionary  work  in  Texas, 
where  he  died  at  his  post  after  thirty-seven  years  of 
successful  labour  in  the  cause  of  Christ — a  fit  com- 
panion, friend,  and  co-labourer  of  the  great  and  good 
Hedding.  Oliver  Beale,  another  associate  of  Bishop 
Hedding  in  his  early  career,  had  also  passed  to  his 
rest.  Wilbm*  Fisk,  D.  D.,  also  ;  he  was  later  in  the 
ministry,  but  his  relations  to  Bishop  Hedding  for  many 
years,  and  especially  during  the  few  last  years  of  his 
briUiant  career,  were  such  as  made  his  death  a  per- 
sonal affliction  not  soon  forgotten.  Of  his  career  we 
need  not  speak ;  his  character  we  need  not  attempt 
to  describe.    The  Church  has  been  blessed  ^vith  but 


472  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

few  sucli  men ;  Bishop  Hedding  had  but  few  such 
intimate  and  confidential  friends.  His  letters,  found 
among  the  bishop's  papers,  continuing  up  almost  to 
the  close  of  his  life,  show  the  concord  of  feeling,  the 
harmony  of  sentiment,  and  the  unbounded  mutual 
confidence  that  subsisted  between  them.  ISTo  wonder 
that  Bishoj)  Hedding  was  now  deeply  impressed 
with  the  fact  that  his  early  associates  were  passing 
away. 

"  Our  preachers  die  well."  We  were  peculiarly 
struck  with  the  beauty,  truth,  and  fulness  of  this  re- 
mark, in  glancing  over  the  obituary  record  for  these 
four  years.  Of  Philip  Gatch  it>  is  said,  "  He  finished 
his  course  with  great  peace,  and  with  unshaken  con- 
fidence in  Christ of  Bishop  M'Kendree,  that  "  he 
died  as  he  lived,  strong  in  the  faith,  and  giving  glory 
to  God ;"  of  Russell  Bigelow,  that  "  in  the  language 
of  a  living  faith  he  was  heard  to  exclaim,  '  Glory  to 
God  !' "  of  Thomas  Drummond — "his  last  words  were, 
^AU  is  well;  I  die  at  my  post;'"  of  Richard  Henry 
Lee — "  near  the  closing  scene  he  said,  '  If  religion  is 
love,  I  feel  it — I  know  I  love  God — God  is  love! 
All  is  peace!'"  of  Benjamin  Ogden — "he  expired 
in  all  the  confidence  of  faith  and  hope ;"  of  Minor 
M.  Crosby,  that  "  the  testimony  of  his  dying  hour 
illustrated  the  principles  of  his  profession  as  a  minis- 
ter of  Christ ;"  of  William  Outten,  that  "  his  death 
was  peaceful  and  triumphant;"  of  William  Adams, 
that  "  his  death  was  not  only  peaceful,  but  signally 
triumphant;"  of  Francis  Landrum,  that  "the  same 


1840.] 


OUK    PREACHERS   DIE  WELL. 


473 


ardour  of  hope  and  fervonr  of  faith  bj  which  his 
life  had  been  distinguished,  signalized  his  dying 
hour,  and  marked  his  translation  to  the  heaven  he 
had  so  long  and  so  faithfully  preached  to  others;" 
of  Parley  W.  Clenny,  that  "  when  asked  if  he  was 
afraid  to  die,  he  said,  '  ISTo !  if  my  work  is  done,  I 
would  rather  die  than  live "  of  George  W.  Huggins, 
that  after  exhorting  his  family  to  meet  him  in  heaven, 
he  exclaimed,  "  My  work  is  finished,  I  am  going  to 
heaven  ;"  of  Samuel  Bozeman,  that  he  died  in  full 
prospect  of  eternal  glory ;"  of  Richard  B.  F.  Gould, 
that,  when  he  was  brought  suddenly  to  the  gates  of 
death,  "  he  stood  firm  and  undismayed ;  death  had  no 
terror  for  him ;  but  with  the  love  of  God  reigning  in 
his  heart,  and  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  mental 
faculties  to  the  last,  he  left  the  world  with  the  note 
of  triumph  falling  from  his  lips;"  of  Christopher 
Frye,  called  by  sudden  accident  to  stand  in  the  face 
of  death,  that,  while  his  crushed  and  mangled  body 
was  racked  with  pain,  he  could  say,  "My  soul  is 
calm  and  stayed  upon  God — my  soul  is  happy,  happy, 
happy!"  of  Thomas  D.  Allen,  that  just  before  he  de- 
parted he  said  to  a  friend,  "I  have  always  expected 
to  have  a  reasonable  degree  of  comfort  in  my  dying 
hour,  but  I  never  expected  to  enjoy  such  a  deep,  set- 
tled calm  as  I  now  feel ;"  of  the  venerable  Solomon 
Sharp,  when  he  had  preached  his  last  sermon  upon 
the  rest  that  remains  for  the  people  of  God,  [Hebrews 
iv,  9,]  he  said,  "  'Now  I  feel  as  if  my  work  was  done ;" 
of  Andrew  C.  Mills,  that  his  last  words  were,  "  '  I  am 


474  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 


now  ready  to  be  offered.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight, 
I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith : 
henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  cro^vn  of  righte- 
ousness, which  the  Lord,  the  rigliteous  Judge,  shall 
give  me  at  that  day ;' "  of  Samuel  Bibbins,  that  when, 
after  fifty  years  of  faithful  labour  in  the  vineyard  of 
his  Lord  and  Master,  he  came  to  the  close  of  his 
career,  he  exclaimed,  "Tlie  storm  of  life  has  at  length 
blown  over !  Tlie  last  tornado  has  passed  by !  The 
victory  is  gained,  and  heaven  is  mine!  Sweet 
heaven  of  rest  is  mine!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah! 
My  life  has  been  spent  these  fifty  years  past  in  the 
ministry,  but  I  do  not  regret  it.  All  my  sufferings 
in  that  laborious  employment  will  render  the  heaven 
of  eternal  rest  the  sweeter of  Rufus  Stoddard,  that 
his  last  words  were,  "My  work  is  done — heaven  is 
mine !  Victory,  victory,  victory  through  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb!  Death  has  lost  his  sting.  Come, 
Lord  Jesus — come !"  of  Josiah  Keyes, — the  scholar, 
the  theologian,  the  able  preacher, — that  when  called 
to  die,  he  could  say,  "'for  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to 
die  is  gain ;' "  of  Cornehus  Jones,  that  when  death  ap- 
proached "  he  was  enabled  to  give  up  all of  Milton 
Colt,  that  "  his  death  was  completely  triumphant ;" 
of  Thomas  Wiley,  that  "he  enjoyed  unshaken  con- 
fidence in  God ;"  of  William  Phillips,  that  "as  he 
lived,  so  he  died,  in  the  possession  of  abundance  of 
grace,  in  sure  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality;"  of 
Nelson  R.  Bewley,  that  "  he  enjoyed  a  complete  tri- 
umph over  death  and  the  grave of  John  H.  Ruble, 


1840.] 


DYING  TESTIMONIES. 


475 


that  "  he  shouted  aloud  the  praise  of  God of  Henry 
S.  Duke,  that  he  closed  his  career  in  "the  triumphant 
persuasion  that  4o  die  is  gain;"'  of  John  Littlejohn, 
that  "  his  death  was  as  triumphant  as  his  life  had  been 
useful  and  exemplary;"  of  Lawrence  M'Coombs, — ■ 
for  forty  years  an  able  and  useful  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ, — that  "  his  soul  was  peaceful,  willing  to  suffer 
still  longer,  or  to  depart  immediately  and  be  with 
Christ ;"  of  Alfred  Medcalf,  that,  when  informed  he 
was  dying,  he  pleasantly  exclaimed,  "'All  is  well — 
Christ  the  hope  of  glory — God  is  with  me !'  and  fell 
asleep;"  of  Ariel  Fay,  that  he  was  unspeakably 
happy;  and,  though  he  could  speak  with  difficulty, 
shouted  aloud,  "  Glory !  glory !  ISTow  I  am  ready — 
ready  to  die  or  live — to  suffer  all  the  will  of  God ;" 
of  Erastus  Felton,  that  "  from  the  fii^st  approach  of 
death  till  its  consummation,  all  was  light,  and  peace, 
and  joy  within  his  soul ;"  of  Charles  T.  Eamsey,  that  "he 
died  as  he  had  lived,  strong  in  the  faith,  giving  glory 
to  God ;"  of  Eobert  L.  Kennon,  that  about  an  hour 
before  he  expired,  while  contemplating  the  glorious 
plan  of  man's  salvation,  he  said,  "  Here  is  true  sim- 
plicity— ^here  is  true  grandeur !"  of  Jesse  Richardson, 
that  he  said,  "  I  have  the  best  truth  of  the  Bible  to 
die  on — the  divinity  of  Christ.  I  have  faith  in  this. 
All  is  consoling  to  me  beyond  the  tomb  ;"  and  again, 
at  another  time,  "  I  have  nothing  to  fear.  I  believe  in 
the  Godhead  of  Christ,  have  preached  it,  lived  on  it, 
and  now  I  die  on  it,  glad  to  rest  my  everlasting  all 
upon  my  Redeemer;"  of  James  Buckley,  that,  after 


476  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

his  speech  had  failed,  "  he  raised  his  hand  in  token 
of  victory  over  the  fear  of  death  through  the  blood 
of  Christ of  James  W.  Finley,  that  he  exclaimed, 
"What  love  and  peace  I  feel.  O,  how  precious  the 
Lord  is  to  my  soul !  Glory !  glory !"  of  Hiram  Loring, 
that  he  said,  "I  die  at  my  post,  and  in  sight  of 
heaven;"  of  Alexander  Talley,  that  "he  expired  in 
perfect  peace  and  triumph,"  and  his  last  words  were, 
"  My  work  is  done  ;"  of  Robert  C.  Jones,  that  with  a 
smiling  countenance  he  said,  "  O,  the  idea  of  meeting 
Jesus !"  of  John  Watson,  that  when  sinking  by  age 
and  disease,  he  said,  The  Lord,  who  has  been  my 
friend  so  long,  surely  will  not  forsake  me  now ;"  of 
James  J.  Housewheat,  that  his  language  was,  "  All  is 
well,  all  is  well !  I  feel  that  Christ  is  with  me !  I 
never  had  such  happy  feelings  in  all  my  life ;"  of 
Thomas  Morrell,  that  "  his  last  moments  were  those  of 
peace  and  heavenly  triumph ;"  of  Smith  Arnold,  that 
his  utterances  were : — 

"  There  is  my  house  and  portion  fair ; 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there, 

And  my  abiding  home ; 
For  me  my  elder  brethren  stay, 
And  angels  beckon  me  away, 

And  Jesus  bids  me  come 

of  Roswell  Putnam,  that  when  he  could  speak  only 
in  a  suppressed  whisper,  he  replied  to  one  who 
asked  him  how  the  gospel  he  had  preached  now 
appeared,  "  E'ever  did  that  gospel  appear  so  valuable 
as  at  the  present,  and  never  did  I  see  my  nothing- 


1840:]  PROGEESS   OF   THE   CHURCH.  477 

ness,  aside  from  divine  grace,  as  I  now  do,  and 
never  was  that  grace  more  sweet ;"  of  Wright  Haren, 
that  he  said,  "That  gospel  which  I  have  preached 
to  others  I  find  to  be  my  support  and  comfort  in 
this  trying  hour;"  of  Calvin  Danforth,  that,  when 
expiring  far  away  from  home,  he  said,  "  My  witness 
is  in  heaven,  my  record  is  on  high ;"  of  Eoss  Clark, 
that,  having  bidden  farewell  to  all  his  earthly  friends, 
he  fixed  his  eyes  above,  and  said,  "All  is  clear! 
Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly,  nor  let  the  chariot- 
wheels  delay;"  and  of  Wilbur  Hoag,  that  his  tes- 
timony was,  "My  confidence  in  God  is  strong;  I 
have  no  fears  about  the  future."  Many  other  evi- 
dences might  we  glean,  from  the  record  of  death's 
doings  during  these  four  years,  that  "our  ministers 
die  well." 

During  the  four  years  just  now  closed,  the  sub- 
stantial prosperity  of  the  Church,  in  all  the  depart- 
ments of  its  great  work,  was  highly  encouraging. 
Its  missionary  collections  had  greatly  increased,  and 
its  missionary  work,  both  in  the  home  and  the 
foreign  field,  greatly  enlarged.  Churches,  more  com- 
modious and  inviting,  had  been  springing  up  in 
every  part  of  the  work,  and  the  facilities  for  carry- 
ing forward  the  great  work  had  been  greatly  mul- 
tiplied. The  educational  system  of  the  Church  had 
continued  to  develop  itself  in  the  increase  of  col- 
leges and  the  multiplication  of  seminaries,  and  was 
already  producing  abundant  fruits.  The  problem 
that  the  highest  order  of  mental  cultivation  was 


478  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

not  only  compatible  with  the  work  of  an  itinerant 
Methodist  minister,  but  also  highly  conducive,  when 
moulded  by  divine  grace  and  fired  by  holy  zeal,  to 
success  in  that  work,  had  now  received  a  historical 
demonstration;  and  men  of  the  highest  educational 
acquirements  were  found  consecrating  them  all  to 
the  service  of  God  in  the  itinerant  ministry.  Method- 
ism had  risen  up  to  be  a  wonder  in  the  land.  Even 
"the  ancient  men,"  who  had  marked  the  smallness 
of  its  origin  and  had  watched  the  progress  of  its 
growth,  were  astonished  at  its  gigantic  development. 
The  increase  for  the  four  years,  including  local 
preachers,  was  ninety-three  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighty-seven,  and  that  of  travelling  preachers 
seven  hundred  and  ninety-nine. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  number  of  deaths 
in  the  ministry.  The  other  great  source  of  loss  to 
the  Church  in  this  respect  has  been  the  great  num- 
bers who  have  retired  from  the  itinerant  ranks  by 
location.  The  locations  during  the  present  quadren- 
nial had  reached  the  astonishing  number  of  five 
hundred  and  forty-six,  or  more  than  one-fourth  of 
the  whole  number  in  the  itinerant  ranks  at  its  com- 
mencement. In  Tennessee  Conference  there  had 
been  no  less  than  fifty-two  locations ;  in  the  Alabama 
there  had  been  thirty-four :  while  the  whole  number 
in  the  conference  at  the  commencement  of  this  period 
was  but  fifty-six.  The  general  causes  of  this  falling 
away  from  the  work  are  patent  upon  the  surface — • 
family  necessities,  hard  labour,  and  inadequate  sup- 


1840.] 


LOCATIONS. 


479 


port.  Some  of  the  evils  connected  with  it  are  equally 
apparent — ^the  embarrassment  of  the  work,  in  conse- 
quence of  being  compelled  constantly  to  supply  the 
places  of  retiring  preachers,  who  were,  in  many  in- 
stances, men  of  cultivated  talent  as  well  as  of  expe- 
rience, with  new  and  untried  men.  This  added  not  a 
little  to  the  difficulties  and  responsibilities  of  the  epis- 
copal office,  and  occasioned  unquestionably  great 
detriment  to  the  work.  This  evil,  however,  had 
existed  from  the  beginning,  and  in  spite  of  it  the 
Methodist  Church  had  grown  up  and  spread  over 
all  the  land.  We  do  not  know  of  a  more  striking 
evidence  of  the  inherent  vitality  of  the  system,  taken 
as  a  whole,  than  that  it  could  produce  such  vast 
results,  though  clogged  by  obstacles  so  powerful. 


480 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1834. 


CHAPTEE  XYI. 

BISHOP  HEDDING  AND  THE  ABOLITION  CONTROYERSY. 

The  Anti-Slavery  Agitation  —  Movements  of  Rev.  Orange  Scott  during  the 
Conference  Year  1834--5  —  Anti-Slavery  feeling  in  New-England  and 
Northern  New- York  — Stand-point  from  which  Bishop  Hedding  contem- 
plated the  Movement  —  Anticipation  of  evil  results  —  Feels  it  his  Duty 
to  oppose  Ultra  Measures — Gives  countenance  to  the  "  Counter  Appeal  " 
—  Anti-Slavery  Sentiments  expressed  in  that  Appeal — Difficult  position 
of  Bishop  Hedding  —  His  Pastoral  Letter  to  the  New-England  and  New- 
Hampshire  Conferences — Its  effect  —  Its  treatment  by  the  Ultraists  — 
Newspaper  Discussions  —  General  Conference  of  1836  —  The  Pastoral 
Address  —  Disapprobation  of  the  Measures  employed  by  Abolitionists  — 
Avoid  electing  a  Slaveholding  Bishop  —  Extremists  on  both  sides  dis- 
satisfied—  Binding  force  of  the  General  Conference  action  upon  the 
Bishops  —  Bishop  Hedding  at  the  New-England  Conference  in  1836  — 
Declines  reappointing  0.  Scott  to  the  Presiding  Eldership  —  Proposed 
Action  on  Slavery  —  His  Administration  assailed — New-Hampshire  Con- 
ference —  G.  Storrs  proposed  for  Presiding  Elder — The  Bishop  converses 
with  him  —  Declines  to  appoint  him  —  Painful  feelings  —  New-England 
Conference  for  1837  —  Calls  the  attention  of  the  body  to  the  misrepre- 
sentations of  0.  Scott  —  Note  :  Letter  from  Bishop  Hedding  to  Rev.  0. 
Scott  —  The  Settlement  —  O.Scott's  retractions — Note:  Previous  at- 
tempt at  Adjustment :  written  statement  of  T.  Merritt,  D.  Fillmore,  and 
T.  C.  Peirce  —  Events  at  the  New-Hampshire  Conference  —  Bishop  Hed- 
ding's  Vindication  of  his  Administration  —  His  celebrated  "  Golden-Rule 
Argument  in  favour  of  Slavery,"  and  what  it  amounts  to  —  An  Unpar- 
donable Sin  —  Ruling  of  Presiding  Elders  —  Character  of  some  of  the 
Resolutions  —  Rev.  0.  Scott  in  the  Field  —  His  oflFences  against  Bishop 
Hedding  repeated  —  A  few  Extracts  from  his  published  Letters — Charges 
preferred  against  Rev.  0.  Scott  before  the  New-England  Conference  — 
Decisions  of  the  Conference  —  Trial  of  La  Roy  Sunderland  —  Mr.  Hed- 
ding looks  to  the  General  Conference  for  redress  —  Incident  at  the  close 
of  the  New-England  Conference — Rev.  0.  Scott's  ex  parte  statement  of 
the  Trial  —  Action  in  the  New-Hampshire  Conference  —  Letter  from 
Bishop  Morris — Letter  from  Bishop  Hedding  in  relation  to  the  Trials  of 
Scott  and  Sunderland  —  Subsequent  misrepresentation  and  ill-treatment 
received  by  Bishop  Hedding  —  An  Apologetic  Remark  concerning  the 
Ultraists  —  Light  in  which  Bishop  Hedding's  Administration  is  to  be  in- 
terpreted—  Subject  brought  up  to  the  General  Conference  of  1840. 


1834.]  THE   ANTI-SLAVERY   MOVEMENT.  481 

Some  six  or  eight  years,  commencing  with  about 
1834,  were  years  of  great  excitement  in  relation  to 
the  system  of  slavery  that  had  gradually  grown  up 
and  extended  in  this  country.  The  anti-slavery  feel- 
ing that  had  been  developing  for  years,  was  one  of 
the  natural  results  of  the  progress  of  Christian  civili- 
zation. It  comes  not  within  our  province  to  detail 
the  history  or  to  discuss  the  elements  of  this  great 
movement.  We  have  rather  to  do  with  some  of  the 
incidents  of  that  movement — especially  as  they  stand 
in  connexion  with  the  subject  of  our  memoir. 

During  the  year  1834,  several  of  the  E"ew-England 
preachers  became  not  only  the  subjects,  but  also  the 
active  agents  of  the  great  excitement  then  springing 
up  in  relation  to  slavery.  Prominent  among  them 
was  Orange  Scott,  a  popular  and  influential  member 
of  the  IsTew-England  Conference.  Being  at  that  time 
presiding  elder  of  the  Providence  District,  his  posi- 
tion gave  him  both  influence  and  opportunities  to 
agitate  the  subject.  Accordingly  he  availed  himself 
of  the  gatherings  of  preachers  at  camp-meetings  and 
on  other  occasions  not  only  to  discuss  the  subject, 
but  to  have  resolutions  passed  in  relation  to  it.  By 
these  means  the  columns  of  the  "  Zion's  Herald " 
were  opened  to  such  discussions.  Mr.  Scott  also  per- 
sonally subscribed  for  one  hundred  copies  of  the 
"  Liberator,"  edited  by  Wm.  L.  Garrison,  to  be  sent 
to  the  membei's  of  the  New-England  Conference. 
At  the  session  of  this  conference  in  1835,  the  major- 
ity of  its  members  had  become  abolitionists,  and  this 


482  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1835. 


became  a  test-question  in  the  election  of  delegates  to 
the  General  Conference.  A  feverish  state  of  excite- 
ment pervaded  the  entire  conference;  and  so  high 
did  it  rise  during  the  election  of  delegates  that  it 
was  not  thought  best  to  attempt  the  election  of  re- 
serve delegates.  Similar  measures  had  been  used  also 
in  the  N'ew-Hampshire  Conference,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  Rev.  George  Storrs,  with  similar  results. 

In  I>rew-England  and  in  ISTorthern  New- York  a 
strong  anti-slavery  feeling  had  long  existed.  The 
exciting  lectures,  speeches,  pamphlets,  &c.,  that  were 
now  brought  to  bear  upon  the  pubhc  mind  kindled 
up  that  anti-slavery  feeling  into  a  flame.  Looking 
upon  the  cause  as  one  embodying  true  philanthropic 
and  benevolent  principles,  the  apprehensions  of  the 
greater  part  of  both  ministers  and  people  who  were 
engaged  in  it,  with  regard  to  the  ultimate  conse- 
quences of  ultra  excitement  and  ultra  measures,  were 
completely  lulled  to  slumber.  They  looked  only  at 
"  the  great  evil and,  as  they  supposed,  were  only 
rushing  forward  to  its  "extirpation."  ^ot  so  with 
Bishop  Hedding.  God  had  made  him  an  overseer  of 
the  whole  Church,  and  he  was  compelled  to  view  the 
subject  from  a  different  stand-point  from  that  of 
many  of  his  brethren.  From  his  soul  he  abhorred 
the  entire  system  of  slavery;  but  in  this  movement 
he  foresaw  peril  to  the  Church,  and  could  not,  con- 
sistently with  his  obligations  as  a  bishop,  refrain  from 
endeavouring  to  counteract  the  pernicious  tendencies 
of  this  movement  in  relation  to  it,  and  he  conceived 


1835.]     STAND-POINT    OF   BISHOT    HEDDING.  483 


it  to  be  the  duty  of  all  ministers  and  members  to  do 
the  same. 

Bishop  Hedding  witnessed,  with  painful  emotion, 
the  excited  state  of  feeling  in  the  l^ew-England  and 
ITew-Hampshire  Conferences  this  year.  He  was  dis- 
tressed beyond  measure  at  the  ultra  measures  that 
were  adopted  by  many  members,  the  harsh  expres- 
sions that  were  used,  and  the  consequent  alienation 
of  feeling  among  those  who  had  long  lived  and  la- 
boured together  as  brethren,  and  also  at  the  imperi- 
ous and  arrogant  spirit  of  some  of  the  leaders,  which 
he  felt  assured,  unless  timely  checked,  could  end  in 
nothing  but  the  most  radical  and  determined  opposi- 
tion to  the  government  and  salutary  discipline  of  the 
Church.  He  had  also  shared  largely  in  the  personal 
abuse  that  was  heaped  upon  those  who,  on  account 
of  prospective  evil,  sought  to  arrest  or  modify  the 
course  of  the  new  and  radical  movement.  The  ses- 
sions of  the  Kew-England  and  ^^"ew-Hampshire  Con- 
ferences for  1835  had  been  anticipated  by  an  "Ap- 
peal" on  the  subject  of  slavery,  addressed  to  the 
members  of  each  by  some  of  the  prominent  abolition- 
ists, though  prepared,  we  beheve,  principally  by 
La  Roy  Sunderland  and  George  Stoii^.  To  counteract 
the  influence  of  this  "Appeal,"  a  "  Counter- Appeal," 
signed  by  Dr.  Fisk,  John  Lindsay,  B.  Otheman,  Abel 
Stevens,  and  others,  was  issued  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  It  was  also  accompanied  by  a  note  from  Bishop 
Hedding,  in  which  he  expressed  his  belief  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  its  statements  and  arguments,  especially 

21 


484  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1835. 

those  relating  to  the  acts  of  the  General  Conference. 
This  document  was  loudly  assailed  as  a  pro-slavery 
affair,  and,  of  course.  Bishop  Hedding  came  in  for  his 
share  of  the  obloquy.  We  are  not  called  upon  to  en- 
dorse all  that  is  found  in  it ;  some  of  its  positions  we 
think  untenable,  and  some  of  its  arguments  fallacious ; 
but  to  show  how  little  its  authors  were  inclined  to 
justify  the  system  of  involuntary  bondage,  as  it  then 
existed,  we  must  be  indulged  with  one  or  two  ex- 
tracts. They  say :  "  Every  diminution  of  the  inten- 
sity of  suffering,  or  of  the  amount  of  exercisable  au- 
thority, which  could  be  made,  without  creating  more 
misery  than  it  subtracts,  ought  instantly  to  be  made ; 
and  the  moment  the  whole  can  be  diminished  away, 
whether  immediately  or  gradually,  without  causing 
more  suffering  than  it  destroys,  then,  and  not  till  then, 
should  it  be  absolutely  and  entirely  annihilated." 

In  another  place  they  add: — "Christianity,  by 
proclaiming  the  immortal  existence  of  every  human 
soul,  and  pronouncing  all  equally  responsible  and 
equally  valuable  in  the  eye  of  God,  stamps  the  stigma 
of  libelous  ahsuA^dity  upon  the  principle  that  man 
can,  in  nature,  be  a  mere  article  of  property.  What 
ever  may  be  the  temporary  state  of  subjection  which 
Christianity  itself  may,  in  prevention  of  higher  evils, 
rightfully  retain  in  transient  existence,  it  does,  at 
the  same  time,  attest  the  innate  ascendency  of  his 
nature,  by  which  he  must  inevitably  rise  above 
this  fictitious  and  unnatural  position  of  a  mere  chattel, 
into  an  elevation  worthy  his  true  character." 


1835.] 


COUNTEE- APPEAL. 


485 


Still  further  on,  it  is  added: — "The  letter  of  the 
golden  rule  and  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  operate 
with  an  irresistible  tendency  to  the  amelioration, 
diminution,  and  destruction  of  slavery,  as  a  system; 
holding  forth  its  perpetuation  as  an  abomination, 
and  its  continuance,  by  the  authors  of  legislation, 
beyond  the  time  of  its  practicable  removal,  a  sinJ^ 

Also  referring  to  the  course  of  the  abolitionists, 
the  counter-appealants  say : — "  Did  we  see  prospec- 
tive emancipation  in  such  a  path,  we  would  bid 
the  process  of  agitation  God-speed.  We  do,  indeed, 
believe  that  too  quickly  the  course  of  oppressive 
legislation  cannot  be  changed;  too  soon  the  safe 
and  happy  liberation  of  the  oppressed  descendants 
of  Africa  in  this  land  cannot  take  place ;  too  rapid 
cannot  be  the  wing  of  that  angel  that  bears  freedom 
to  the  fettered  hope  of  the  despairing,  and  life  to 
the  dying.  In  every  feasible  hope  of  philanthropy 
— ^in  every  rational  effort  to  spread  just  informa- 
tion— ^to  create  a  healthful  tone  of  public  feehng, 
and  to  render  the  free  air  of  our  country  unre- 
spirable  to  a  spirit  of  oppression,  we  rejoice  to 
bear  our  part." 

Tliey  also  address  their  brethren  in  the  South,  to 
incite  them,  if  possible,  to  emulate  the  noble  course 
of  their  brethren  in  the  old  world  in  efforts  to  bring 
about  the  emancipation  of  the  negro  race.  "To 
our  brethren  of  the  South,  if  our  feeble  voice  may 
not  be  wholly  unheard  by  them,  in  language  which 
we  are  sure  they  will  recognise  as  the  general 


486  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1835. 

tone  of  Christian  brotlierlj  kindness,  we  would 
address  our  most  intense  entreaty,  that,  unless  it 
be  at  the  expense  of  higher  and  immortal  interests, 
they  would  now,  in  this  day  of  light,  of  peace,  and 
of  moral  power,  emulate  the  memorable  stand  of 
our  brethren  of  England,  and,  with  the  name  of 
Wesley  upon  their  banners,  and  his  spirit  in  their 
hearts,  would  seize  the  timely  honour  of  leading 
out  the  foremost  van  of  the  great  Christian  move- 
ments, which,  in  some  of  our  states,  are  directing 
their  onward  march  toward  the  ultimate  achieve- 
ment of  universal  emancipation." 

A  document  containing  sentiments  like  the  above 
must  have  been  singularly  incongruous  to  have 
been  pro-slavery  in  its  general  character;  or,  had 
its  authors  designed  it  as  a  defence  of  slavery,  they 
certainly  shot  very  wide  of  their  general  design 
in  these  passages.  The  pen  of  so  skilful  a  logician 
and  so  sagacious  a  man  as  Dr.  Fisk,  or  of  Professor 
"Whedon,  by  whom  the  main  labour  of  its  pre- 
paration was  performed,  could  hardly  have  been 
guilty  of  such  aberrations;  and  yet  both  of  these 
charges  were  laid  against  the  "  counter-appeal"  and 
its  authors.  The  conflict  had  now  fairly  commenced. 
That  Church,  which  had  always  most  strongly 
protested  against  the  great  evil  of  slavery,  was  most 
fiercely  denounced.  Some  of  the  more  ultra  and  less 
cautious  did  not  hesitate  to  declare  that  they  would 
never  faulter  till  they  had  "  split  the  great  Methodist 
prop  to  slavery." 


1835.] 


PASTORAL  LETTER. 


487 


The  course  of  things  was  exceedingly  afflicting 
to  Bishop  Hedding.  Few  men,  perhaps,  were  more 
sensitive  in  relation  to  their  personal  reputation ;  and 
he  could  not  bnt  feel  that  some  brethren — brethren 
with  whom  he  had  long  been  associated,  and  in 
whom  he  once  had  great  confidence — were  doing 
all  they  could  to  place  him  in  a  false  attitude  before 
the  Church,  and  thus  to  curtail  his  influence  and 
injure  his  reputation.  To  join  them  in  their  peculiar 
measures  against  slavery,  he  conscientiously  believed 
would  be  to  assist  in  driving  the  ploughshare  of 
ruin  through  the  Church  of  God.  To  stand  aloof, 
would  be  to  subject  his  character  and  motives  to 
many  misapprehensions  and  to  many  rude  assaults. 
Painful  as  was  his  position,  he  seemed  shut  up  to 
these  alternatives.  As  to  which  he  should  choose, 
he  could  not  hesitate  a  moment.  Self  could  not 
be  regarded  a  moment,  when  placed  in  competi- 
tion with  the  claims  and  interests  of  the  Church  of 
God. 

Actuated  by  these  views,  in  conjunction  with  his 
junior  colleague.  Bishop  Emory,  he  addressed  a 
pastoral  letter  to  the  "ministers  and  preachers"  in 
the  Kew-England  and  IS^ew-Hampshire  Annual  Con- 
ferences. It  is  dated  at  Lansingburgh,  September 
10th,  1835,  and  was  probably  mainly  written  by 
Bishop  Emory.  After  stating  that  they  had  "marked 
with  deep  solicitude  the  painful  excitement  which 
had  been  producing  disturbance"  within  the  bounds 
of  those  two  conferences,  they  proceed  to  say : — "  Be- 


4:88  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1835. 

lieving,  as  we  do,  tliat  these  measures  have  already 
been  productive  of  pernicious  results,  and  tend  to 
the  production  of  others  yet  more  disastrous,  both 
in  the  Church  and  in  the  social  and  political  rela- 
tions of  the  country,  we  deem  it  our  duty  to 
address  to  you  a  pastoral  letter  on  the  subject." 
The  whole  letter  is  couched  in  the  most  affectionate, 
and  yet  in  the  most  decided  and  earnest  terms.  The 
main  scope  of  the  letter  is  to  show  that  the  ultra 
measures  which  were  then  convulsing  the  com- 
munity could  be  productive  of  but  little  good,  while 
they  were  fraught  with  great  evil  to  themselves,  to  the 
Church,  and  to  the  whole  country.  They  earnestly 
entreat  their  brethren  to  pause  before  they  are  drawn 
into  the  vortex  which  is  gathering  around  them.  They 
earnestly  entreat  all — and  especially  the  presiding 
elders  and  preachers — to  discountenance  the  practice 
of  leaving  their  regular  work  and  the  care  of  the  souls 
committed  to  their  charge,  to  travel  over  the  country 
as  lecturers,  delivering  public  harangues  and  getting 
up  conventions.  In  this  address  they  endeavour  to 
guard  themselves  against  any  imputation  of  giving 
countenance  to  the  system  of  slavery.  They  say: — 
"The  question  of  slavery  itself  it  is  not  our  purpose 
here  to  discuss;  nor  is  there  any  occasion  for  it. 
The  sentiment  of  the  Church  on  this  subject  is 
well  known.  Our  object  is  rather  to  confine  our- 
selves to  the  practical  considerations  which  press 
upon  us  in  the  present  crisis,  and  which,  we  pre- 
sume, cannot  fail  to  arrest  the  attention  of  the 


1835.]     EFFECT   OF   HIS    PASTORAL   LETTER.  489 

humane,  the  pious,  and  the  reflecting  of  all  parties." 
They  also  add: — ^"That  the  ITew  Testament  Scrip- 
tures, or  the  preaching  or  practice  of  our  Lord  or 
his  apostles,  were  ever  intended  to  justify  the  con- 
dition of  slavery,  we  do  not  believe." 

While  this  letter  had  but  little  effect  upon  the 
more  determined  leaders  in  the  ultra  movement  it 
was  designed  to  check,  it  exerted  a  most  salutary 
influence  over  hundreds  who,  from  deep  sympathy 
with  the  great  anti-slavery  sentiment  of  the  age, 
were  in  danger  of  being  precij)itated  into  a  mael- 
strom of  excitement  and  of  radical  measures,  from 
which  little  good  was  to  be  expected  and  much  evil 
apprehended.  The  letter  of  the  bishops  was  attacked 
with  great  virulence.  To  guard  themselves  against 
the  imputation  of  favouring  the  system  of  slavery, 
they,  as  we  have  already  seen,  distinctly  avowed 
their  opposition  to  it.  This  frank  avowal,  however, 
availed  them  but  little  with  men  who  were  accus- 
tomed to  stigmatize  all  who  did  not  approve  of  their 
measures  as  pro-slavery,  and  therefore  involved  in 
the  guilt  and  condemnation  of  those  who  actually 
held  their  fellow-beings  in  bondage.  It  is  but  just 
to  the  abolitionists  of  that  day,  to  remark  that  they 
were  not  alone  guilty  of  using  intemperate  expres- 
sions and  of  employing  extreme  measures.  The 
spirit  of  the  law  of  the  "olden  time" — "an  eye  for 
an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth" — w^as  too  often 
manifest  in  the  opposition  made  to  their  move- 
ments.   The  newspaper  discussions  of  the  time  ex- 


490  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1836. 

ilibit  an  amount  of  rude  personalities,  and  of  grave 
crimination  and  recrimination,  painful  to  witness 
amono'  those  who  were  ministers  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and,  undoubtedly,  had  the  great  interests 
of  humanity  at  heart.  We  gladly  draw  a  veil 
over  these  scenes.  They  can  be  accounted  for  only 
by  the  peculiar  and  unparalleled  excitement  of 
the  times.  Most  of  these  men  were  unquestion- 
ably good  men.  Many  of  them  have  since  been 
gathered  to  the  tomb.  Their  alienations  have  been 
healed,  and  their  discordant  views  harmonized  in 
that  better  land  where  the  spiritual  vision  is  un- 
clouded by  earthly  prejudices,  and  where  all  hearts 
beat  in  unison  under  the  impulses  of  a  purer  and 
holier  love. 

While  this  state  of  things  existed,  and  these 
measures  were  progressing,  the  General  Conference 
of  1836  commenced  its  session  at  Cincinnati.  Several 
memorials  on  the  subject  of  slavery  were  presented, 
and  they  elicited  not  a  little  excitement  and  discus- 
sion in  that  body.  The  measures  of  the  ultra-aboli- 
tionists were  strongly  condemned,  both  in  a  series  of 
resolutions  and  in  a  pastoral  address  "  to  the  mem- 
bei-s  and  friends  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 
In  these  documents  there  is  a  studious  avoidance — 
perhajDS  too  much  so — of  any  expression  that  would 
either  condemn  or  countenance  the  system  of  slavery. 
A  simple  object  was  sought  to  be  accomplished, 
namely,  the  restraining  of  measures  calculated  to 
convulse  and  perhaps  divide  the  Church. 


1836.]      ACTION   OF   GENERAL   CONFEKENCE.  491 


In  the  Pastoral  Address,  tlie  General  Conference, 
referring  to  those  who  had  been  active  in  producing 
the  agitations  in  the  Church,  sajs :  "  We  feel  it  our 
imperative  duty  to  express  our  decided  disapproba- 
tion of  the  measures  they  have  pursued  to  accomplish 
their  objects."  Again  they  say:  "While  we  cheer- 
fully accord  to  such  all  the  sincerity  they  ask  for 
their  belief  and  motives,  we  cannot  but  disapprove 
of  their  measures  as  alike  destructive  to  the  peace  of 
the  Church  and  to  the  happiness  of  the  slave  himself." 
They  also  add:  "From  every  view  of  the  subject 
which  we  have  been  able  to  take,  and  from  the  most 
calm  and  dispassionate  survey  of  the  whole  ground, 
we  have  come  to  the  solemn  conviction  that  the  only 
safe.  Scriptural,  and  prudent  way  for  us,  both  as 
ministers  and  people,  to  take,  is  wholly  to  refrain 
from  this  agitating  subject,  which  is  now  convulsing 
the  countiy,  and  consequently  the  Church,  from  end 
to  end."  They  beseech  brethren  who  are  opposed 
to  slavery,  and  wish  to  give  utterance  to  their  senti- 
ments, to  employ  kind  and  moderate  language.  They 
say:  "You  would  do  much  better  to  express  your- 
selves in  those  terms  of  respect  and  affection  which 
evince  a  sincere  sympathy  for  those  of  your  brethren 
who  are  necessarily,  and,  in  some  instances,  reluc- 
tantly associated  with  slavery  in  the  states  where  it 
exists,  than  to  indulge  in  harsh  censures  and  denun- 
ciations, and  in  those  fruitless  efforts  which,  instead 
of  lightening  the  burden  of  the  slave,  only  tend  to 

make  his  condition  the  more  irksome  and  distressing." 
21* 


492  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1836. 

In  connexion  with  this  point  they  also  say:  "The 
exercise  of  mntual  forbearance  in  matters  of  opinion 
is  essential  in  a  commnnity  where  freedom  of  speech 
is  guaranteed  to  the  citizens  by  the  Constitution  which 
binds  them  together,  and  which  defines  and  secures 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  all."  Finally,  they  express 
themselves  in  strong  terms  of  reprobation  of  the  vio- 
lent measures  that  had  often  been  employed  to  put 
down  the  anti-slavery  lectures :  "  But  while  we  thus 
express  our  disapprobation  of  these  measures,  we 
would,  with  equally  strong  and  decided  language, 
record  our  abhorrence  of  all  unlawful  and  unscrip- 
tural  means  to  check  and  to  counteract  them.  All 
mobs,  and  violent  movements  of  self-created  tribu- 
nals, to  inflict  summary  punishment  upon  those  who 
may  differ  from  them  in  opinion,  are  condemned 
alike  by  the  laws  of  our  land  and  by  every  principle 
of  Christianity.  We  should,  therefore,  be  extremely 
pained  and  mortified  to  learn  that  any  of  you  should 
have  lent  your  influence  to  foment  a  spirit  of  insur- 
rection in  any  manner,  or  to  have  given  sanction  to 
such  violent  movements  as  have,  in  some  instances 
and  places,  disturbed  the  peace  of  society,  and  fore- 
stalled the  operation  of  the  established  tribunals  of 
justice  to  protect  the  innocent  and  punish  the  guilty." 

From  the  preceding  extracts,  the  tone  and  design 
of  that  portion  of  the  Pastoral  Address  which  related 
to  the  agitations  of  the  day  may  be  gathered."^  At 

The  Address  in  full  may  be  found  in  Bangs's  History,  vol.  iv, 
p.  250  et  seq. ;  and  also  in  Elliott's  Great  Secession,  Doc.  23,  p.  915. 


1836.]        DUTY   OF    EXECUTIVE   OFFICERS.  493 

the  same  time  that  the  General  Conference  expressed 
itself  so  strongly  in  opposition  to  what  it  deemed 
an  unhealthy  and  pernicious  anti-slavery  agitation, 
it  showed  itself  steadfast  in  its  opposition  to  slavery 
by  refusing,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  the  ultraists  at 
the  south,  to  elect  a  slaveholder  to  the  office  of 
bishop,  as  well  as  by  its  studious  avoidance  of  any 
endorsement  of  the  system.  The  result  was  that  the 
extremists  on  both  sides  were  dissatisfied;  and  we 
think  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  from  that  time 
forward  certain  men  in  the  north,  and  others  in  the 
south,  contemplated  an  ultimate  rupture  in  the 
Church. 

The  executive  officers  of  the  Church,  to  whom  was 
intrusted  the  administration  of  its  Discipline,  felt 
themselves  bound  by  this  explicit  judgment  of  the 
General  Conference.  Especially  was  this  the  case 
with  the  bishops,  who  were  directly  amenable  to  the 
General  Conference  for  their  acts ;  and  also  with  the 
presiding  elders,  whose  responsibilities  were  in  some 
respects  similar  to  those  of  a  bishop.  This  is  the 
stand-point  from  which  we  are  to  view  tlie  subsequent 
official  conduct  of  Bishop  Hedding  in  certain  specific 
cases.  To  form  a  just  estimate  of  his  course,  we  must 
bear  in  mind  that  he  cordially  and  fully  approved  of, 
and  felt  himself  ecclesiastically,  morally,  and  reli- 
giously bound,  as  an  officer  of  the  Church,  to  obey 
the  behests  of  its  highest  judicatory. 

Under  these  deep  convictions  of  duty  and  of 
solemn  responsibility.  Bishop  Hedding  came  to  the 


494  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1836. 

I^ew-England  Conference  in  1836.  Two  acts  of  the 
bishop  here  gave  great  umbrage  to  the  abohtionists. 
The  first  was  the  removal  of  Orange  Scott  from  the 
Providence  District,  where  he  had  laboured  but  two 
years.  It  was  currently  reported  to  the  bishop — in 
fact  it  was  a  thing  notorious — that  Mr.  Scott  had 
employed  much  of  his  time  and  strength,  during  the 
year,  in  lecturing  and  in  disputations  upon  the  ex- 
citing theme  of  the  day.  He  became  satisfied  that 
Mr.  Scott  had  done  this  to  the  detriment  of  his  ap- 
propriate work.  Becoming  satisfied  of  this,  he  took 
occasion  to  have  a  private  and  brotherly  conversa- 
tion with  him,  and  earnestly  advised  him  to  desist 
from  such  a  course.  The  bishop  soon  found,  how- 
ever, that  he  was  determined  to  persist  in  his  course, 
and  that  no  persuasions  could  avail  with  him,  as  he 
felt  conscientiously  bound  in  the  matter.  He  then 
frankly  told  him  that,  in  view  of  the  action  of  the 
General  Conference,  and  in  view  of  what  he  conceived 
to  be  his  obligations  to  promote  the  peace  and  well- 
being  of  the  Church,  he  could  not  continue  him  in 
the  ofiice  of  presiding  elder.  The  result  was  that  Mr. 
Scott  was  removed  from  the  district;  but,  that  he 
might  not  seem  to  be  oppressed,  he  was  sent  to 
Lowell,  one  of  the  best  appointments  within  the 
bounds  of  the  conference.  He  had  even  the  choice 
of  his  own  colleague,  of  whom  he  says,  "  Our  hearts 
were  united  as  the  hearts  of  David  and  Jonathan."* 
This  certainly  does  not  look  much  hke  oppression ;  and 
Scott's  Memoir,  p.  38. 


1836.1       THE   NEW-ENGLAND    CONFERENCE.  4:95 

yet  for  tliis  act  Bishop  Heclding's  administration  was 
assailed  in  the  most  bitter  terms.  This  was  done  not 
only  in  private  circles  and  in  lectures,  but  also  in  the 
public  press,  and  by  Mr.  Scott  himself.  The  bishop 
himself  remarks  :  "This,  I  suppose,  was  the  principal 
cause  of  Mr.  Scott's  repeated  attacks  upon  me  in  a 
public  paper  afterward.  Up  to  this  time,  I  never 
knew  one  of  the  members  of  the  i^ew-England  Con- 
ference to  cherish  other  than  the  most  friendly  and 
fraternal  feelings  toward  me.  But  the  manner  I  felt 
it  my  duty  to  act  in  this  case,  and  in  one  other  at  this 
conference,  led  some — •chiefly,  if  not  exclusively,  those 
who  afterward  left  the  Church — to  manifest  often 
other  than  kind  and  fraternal  feelings." 

The  other  case  to  which  the  bishop  refei*s  Telated 
to  proposed  conference  action  on  the  subject  of 
slavery.  At  this  conference  a  committee  on  slavery 
had  been  appomted.  From  various  causes  the  re- 
port of  that  committee  was  not  presented  for  confer- 
ence action  till  the  very  last  session.  This  was  an 
evening  session,  and  it  was  eleven  o'clock  at  night 
before  it  was  presented.  When  it  was  read  the 
bishop  found  it  was  a  very  long  and  intricate  one, 
referring  to  facts  and  maintaining  principles  which 
required  close  examination  before  the  report  could 
properly  be  adopted.  A  large  minority  of  the  con- 
ference too,  as  he  well  knew,  were  not  willing  the 
report  should  be  adopted  without  investigation  and 
an  opportunity  for  debate.  When  a  motion  was 
made,  after  a  single  reading  of  the  report  to  adopt  it 


496  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1836. 

as  a  wliole,  he  stated  these  facts  to  the  conference; 
and  told  them  there  were  some  things  in  the  report 
of  which  he  doubted  whether  they  were  or  were  not 
contrary  to  Methodism,  and  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  put  the  question  to  vote  without  more  time  to  ex- 
amine it,  and  advised  them  to  adjom-n,  and  take  the 
subject  up  deliberately  on  the  morrow.  He  further 
stated  that  if,  on  examination,  he  found  it  to  be  con- 
sistent with  Methodism,  he  was  willing  to  put  it  to 
vote  ;  whereas,  if  he  found  it  contrary  to  Method- 
ism, he  should  violate  his  duty  to  the  Church  in  sub- 
mitting it  to  vote.  A  motion  was  then  made  to  ad- 
journ, but  it  was  not  carried.  "Then,"  said  tlie 
bishop,  we  cannot  vote  on  the  report ;"  and,  accord- 
ingly, he  proceeded  with  the  regular  business,  read 
out  the  appointments,  and  closed  the  conference. 

This  act  of  the  bishop  was  harshly  assailed.  He 
was  accused  of  acting  "  without  law  and  above  law," 
of  "  depriving  the  conference  of  its  rights,"  of"  usurp- 
ing authority  not  given  to  him,"  and  the  like. 

At  the  Xew-Hampshire  Conference,  which  suc- 
ceeded soon  after.  Bishop  Hedding  gave  additional 
oflence  to  the  ultraists.  The  same  reasons  that  had 
induced  him  to  remove  Orange  Scott  from  the  Provi- 
dence District,  led  him  to  decline  the  appointment 
of  Kev.  George  Storrs  to  a  vacant  district  in  the 
Xew-Hampshire  Conference.  The  friends  of  Mr. 
Storrs  strongly  urged  the  appointment,  and  person- 
ally the  bishop  was  not  averse  to  it ;  but,  in  view  of 
the  pre\dous  course  of  Mr.  Storrs  on  the  subject  of 


1836.] 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONFERENCE. 


497 


slavery,  and  also  in  view  of  the  action  of  the  General 
Conference  and  of  his  own  official  obligations,  he 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  pursue  the  same  course  he  had 
pursued  with  Mr.  Scott,  and  informed  Mr.  Storrs  that 
he  could  not  appoint  him  to  such  an  office  unless  he 
had  some  assurance  that  he  would  cease  to  distract 
the  Church  by  active  participation  in  the  ultra  mea-  , 
sures  of  the  day.    Mr.  Storrs  replied  that  he  could  i 
come  under  no  such  obhgation.  Bishop  Hedding  then^  \ 
said  to  him, — "My  obligations  to  the  Church,  then,  ^ 
will  not  allow  me  to  appoint  you  presiding  elder ;  v 
for  I  should  only  be  putting  you  in  a  more  prominent 
place  that  you  might  do  more  mischief."    This  teraii- 
nated  the  negotiation.    The  next  morning  Mr.  Storrs 
read  a  paper  in  conference,  stating  that  he  could  not 
take  an  appointment  under  an  officer  of  the  General 
Conference  in  view  of  the  action  of  that  body  on  the 
subject  of  slavery,  and  he  therefore  asked  a  location. 
So  far  as  we  know,  Mr.  Storrs  had  been  a  talented, 
useful,  and  influential  man  in  the  conference;  nor 
will  we  call  in  question  the  sincerity  of  his  convic- 
tions or  the  purity  of  his  motives.    Yet  we  think 
his  subsequent  career  fully  vindicates  the  far-seeing 
wisdom  and  unflinching  integrity  of  the  venerable 
bishop. 

These  events,  and  others  connected  with  them  or 
resulting  from  the  same  causes,  were,  to  the  last  de- 
gree, painful  to  the  bishop.  He  felt  himself  consci- 
entiously shut  up  to  a  course,  for  the  sake  of  the 
Church  and  of  the  cause  of  God,  which  was  turning 


498 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 


many  of  his  earliest  and  best  friends  into  bitter  op- 
^>^osers.  He  even  felt  constrained  to  cbange  the  place 
r  of  his  residence ;  and,  in  the  fall  of  this  year,  removed 
Ij  from  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  to  Lansingburgh,  New- 
iXYork. 

At  the  session  of  the  ITew-England  Conference  in 
1837,  Bishop  Hedding,  believing  himself  to  be  misrep- 
resented and  injm-ed  by  the  letters  of  Orange  Scott, 
reflecting  upon  his  conrse  at  the  preceding  session, 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  bring  the  matter  to  the  atten- 
tion of  the  conference.  Accordingly  he  read  a  paper 
to  the  conference,  specifying  the  charges  made  against 
hijiiJ;>y-0.--&eett^a]Qd  showing  that  some  of  them  were 
misrepresentations  of  his  action,  and  that  others  were 
absolutely  false  in  fact.*    Mr.  Scott  replied  in  a 

Some  private  correspondence  on  the  subject  had  taken  place  be- 
tween them  during  the  year,  but  without  any  satisfactory  results. 
The  folloAving  extract  from  a  letter  to  Mr,  Scott  from  Bishop  Hedding, 
dated  "Lansingburgh,  November  26,  1836,"  relates  this  subject, 
and  is  worthy  of  preservation  in  this  connexion.  vYou  certainly 
labour  under  a  great  mistake  in  supposing  that  I  committed  an 
'  encroachment  upon  your  rights '  at  the  last  session  of  the  New- 
England  Conference.  The  course  I  took  was  the  same  in  principle  I 
have  always  followed  in  your  conference  and  in  all  others  I  have  at- 
tended. It  was  the  same  all  the  other  bishops  have  followed,  so  far 
as  I  know,  from  the  beginning  of  my  acquaintance  with  Methodism. 
We  have  always  practiced  putting  off  questions  to  such  times  as  we 
supposed  would  best  contribute  to  facilitate  the  business  of  the  con- 
ference. We  have  always  practiced  setting  aside  such  motions  or 
resolutions  as  we  supposed  unconstitutional. 

"  But  the  reason  you  never  happened  to  perceive  it  before,  I  sup- 
pose, is,  the  course  never  before  crossed  your  favourite  object.  The 
Discipline  gives  me  a  perfect  right  to  do  as  I  did,  and  I  judged  the 
business  of  the  conference  required  me  to  do  it.  The  conference,  at 
the  close,  gave  me  a  vote  of  thanks  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote, 


1837.] 


DIFFICULTY    WITH    O.  SCOTT. 


499 


speech  of  considerable  length;  after  which  two  of 
the  brethren  preferred  formal  charges  of  slander  and 
misrepresentation  against  him.  Bishop  Hedding  felt 
anxious  to  have  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  matter, 

and  they  cannot  now,  as  honest  men,  complain.  You  admitted  at 
Lynn  that  you  probably  voted  for  that  resolution  of  thanks,  and  you 
cannot  now  consistently  complain.  You  were  either  dishonest  then, 
or  you  are  unreasonable  now  in  complaining  as  you  do  about  my  acts 
in  that  conference.  Why  did  not  you  or  they  oppose  the  vote  of 
thanks  ?  Why  did  you  not,  like  honest  men,  state,  in  my  presence, 
what  you  supposed  to  be  wrong  in  my  administration,  and  give  me 
opportunity  to  explain  or  retract,  if  either  were  necessary  ?  I  be- 
lieve the  truth  is,  that  neither  you  nor  the  conference  thought  '  / 
encroached'  on  your  rights  at  the  time;  but  you,  yourself ,}xMQ  im- 
agined the  idea  since,  and  made  others  b^Ti^eTt^  and  now  you  go 
about  holding  meTi'p  to  public  contempt  about  a  supposed  evil  which 
is  only  a  creature  of  your  own  imagination. 

"  I  was  willing  to  attend  to  the  resolutions  on  abolition  at  the  proper 
time,  and  I  told  the  conference  so  over  and  over  again.    I  said  the 
last  evening  I  Avas  willing  to  stay  three  days  for  that  purpose,  and 
advised  the  conference  to  stay  the  next  day ;  but  the  majority  were 
unwilling  to  stay,  and  the  friends  of  the  resolutions  withdrew  them, 
and  now  you  blame  me  and  traduce  me  before  the  public  because  the 
resolutions  were  not  passed.    Dear  Orange,  where  is  your  reason, 
where  is  your  conscience,  that  you  can  think  yourself  justified  before 
God  or  man  and  do  thus?    Have  I  no  'rights'  as  well  as  you?    Has  , 
the  president  of  a  conference,  when  in  the  chair,  no  rights  ?    Must  \ 
he  be  under  the  control  of  the  few  or  the  many  in  every JLittle  ques-  ' 
tion  ?    When  would  a  conference  get  through  its  business  if  the 
president  were  obliged  to  take  the  course  you  contend  for? 

"I  admit  the  General  Conference  has  a  right  to  take  that  course, 
and  they  usually  leave  a  large  portion  of  their  business  undone. 
That,  probably,  was  the  cause  of  the  loss  of  the  temperance  question 
this  year.  But  with  the  annual  conference  it  is  different.  They  and 
the  president  are  a  dependent  body ;  they  meet  to  do  certain  busi- 
ness, and  they  are  not  obliged  to  do  anything  else  unless  they  choose. 
The  New-England  Conference  testified  that  this  year  in  refusing  to 
stay  and  pass  the  resolutions  on  abolition,  though  a  majority  doubt- 
less were  abolitionists. 

"  I  do  not  believe  there  are  old  preachers  in  the  New-England  Con- 


500 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1837. 


believing  it  would  be  best  for  tbe  Church  and  also 
for  the  accused,  for  whom  he  really  had  great  respect, 
and  hoped  that  he  might  yet  be  saved  to  the  Chm-ch. 
He  therefore  proposed  a  fi'iendly  meeting  of  the 
parties  with  a  few  of  the  friends  of  each,  which  was 
had.  This  meeting  resulted  in  the  following  "  retrac- 
tions," which  were  satisfactory  to  the  bishop,  and 
were  assented  to  and  signed  by  Orange  Scott,  as 
follows  : — ■ 

CoEEEcnoxs.'^ — "  "Whereas  I  wrote  several  lettei*s 

ference  who  "would  say  such  things  as  you  tell  me  were  said  by  some 
'  older  and  better'  than  you  are,  if  they  understood  the  matter.  .Jlou 
ha'v^probarbly  excited  them  and  operated  upon  them  till  you  have 
led  them  to  say,  imprudently,  what  they  themselves  did  not  under- 
stand. I-Tvas  in  hopes  that,  after  our  interview  at  Lynn,  you  would 
•'  see  the  wrongs  you  had  done  and  take  a  more  prudent  course  in 
future ;  but  the  statements  in  your  letter  impress  me  with  this  idea, 
that  if  a  bishop  should  happen  to  do  in  your  conference  what  a  few 
of  you  should  think  improper,  you  would  exert  your  influence  to 
destroy  Methodism  in  New-England!  Surely  I  thought  you  loved  - 
Methodism  better  than  that !  If  a  bishop  does  wrong,  you  ought  to 
take  the  steps  the  gospel  and  the  Discipline  point  out  to  correct  him, 
and  not  abuse  him  in  the  public  newspapers,  nor  destroy  Methodism 
on  his  account.  Through  the  whole  session  of  the  New-England  Con- 
ference it  never  entered  my  mind  that  I  was  taking  a  course  differ- 
ent from  what  was  usual,  nor  did  I  suppose  that  any  one  else  thought 
so  till  your  printed  letter  followed  me  to  Vermont  in  September„^^ 
cannot  regard  jqur^doings  in  thij^^jLttPT  jilJieogiaa-than^hat  the 
Scripl4i£i.callbackbiting ;  but  I  still  hope  you  will  repent  and  re- 
form. But  I  do  not  suppoiTe  you  see  the  evil  of  your  doings  any  more 
than  slaveholders  do  theirs ;  and,  believing  you  do  not  yet  intend  to 
be  wicked,  I  still  feel  toward  you  as  a  brother.^' 

It  is  due  to  Bishop  Hedding  to  remark  that  he  had  made  an 
effort  during  the  year  to  adjust  this  unpleasant  matter,  so  as  not  to 
be  under  the  necessity  of  bringing  it  to  the  attention  of  the  conference 
at  all.  The  result  of  that  effort  will  be  best  seen  by  the  subjoined 
attestation  of  mutual  friends,  who  were  present : — "  The  undersigned, 


1837.]  EETRACTIONS    OF   O.  SCOTT. 


501 


to  Bishop  Hedding,  and  to  the  editor  of  Zion's 
Watchman,  and  caused  them  and  several  anony- 
mous letters  to  be  published  in  said  paper  of  August 
31,  September  21,  and  December  T,  1836;  and 

members  of  the  New-England  Conference,  were  present  at  a  conver- 
sation which  took  place  between  Bishop  Hedding  and  Rev.  0.  Scott 
some  time  in  the  month  of  September  or  October  last,  in  Lynn,  relative 
to  certain  statements  contained  in  a  letter  of  August  31,  1836,  and  - 
published  in  Zion's  Watchman,  addressed  by  Rev.  0.  Scott  to  Bishop 
Hedding.  In  that  conversation  brother  Scott  admitted  that  a  num- 
ber of  his  statements  were  incorrect,  (we  should  think  seven  or 
eight,)  and  he  promised  to  correct  them  in  a  way  which  he  pre- 
sumed would  give  satisfaction.  But  we  are  of  the  opinion  he  has 
not  done  it,  but  rather  made  things  worse  in  his  second  communi- 
cation. 

"  1.  Brother  Scott  says,  '  Your  zeal,  however,  to  put  down  the 
abolitionists,  and  stop  the  discussion  of  the  slave  question,  has  been 
to  me  not  only  a  matter  of  regret,  but  of  surprise.' 

"  The  bishop  showed  that  he  had  made  no  effort  to  put  down 
abolitionists,  or  stop  the  discussion  of  the  slave  question,  but  only 
to  restrain  certain  brethren  from  what  he  deemed  imprudent  and 
unprofitable  proceedings  on  that  subject.  Brother  Scott  admitted 
he  was  incorrect  in  this  particular. 

*'  2.  The  Pastoral  Address  alluded  to  in  the  letter  does  not  '  at- 
tempt to  silence'  the  discussion,  but  only  to  prevent  brethren  from 
performing  acts  in  the  discussion  which  the  authors  of  the  Address 
believe  to  be  improper.  Brother  Scott  could  not  produce  any  evi- 
dence to  the  contrary. 

"  3.  The  letter  attributes  to  the  bishop  the  manifestation  of  '  a 
spirit  of  disdain'  toward  two  hundred  Methodist  ministers,  and  more 
than  three  thousand  Church-members.  This  brother  Scott  admitted 
was  without  foundation. 

"  4.  Brother  Scott  admitted  that  what  he  had  said  respecting  the 
removal  of  a  presiding  elder  was  not  strictly  correct.  Also,  that 
the  bishop  has  a  right  to  remove  a  presiding  elder  for  •  no  cause,'  was 
a  mistake. 

"  5.  The  letter  states  that  the  bishop  said,  respecting  the  report 
on  abolition,  that  '  there  were  some  parts  in  it  to  which  he  should 
object.'  The  bishop  said,  '  There  might  be  some  things  in  it  which 
he  could  not  properly  put  to  vote.'    Brother  Scott  assented  to  this. 


502 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1837. 


whereas  I  am  now  convinced  said  lettei*s  contain  a 
number  of  statements  which  are  erroneous,  and  inju- 
rious to  the  reputation  of  Bishop  Hedding,  I  avail 
myself  of  this  mode  of  correcting  them. 

'•6.  What  was  writteii  relating  to  the  sanction  of  the  Counter- 
Appeal,  he  admitted  was  not  strictly  correct. 

"  7.  There  are  several  passages  in  the  letter  which  represent  the 
bishop  as  acting  improperly,  in  allowing  the  minority  to  speak  and 
consume  time,  which  ought  not  to  have  been  written ;  for  members 
in  the  minority  had  a  right  to  speak,  as  well  as  those  in  the  majority. 
Brother  Scott  could  make  no  very  satisfactory  reply. 

"  8.  In  another  letter,  published  in  said  Watchman  of  September  21, 
he  says  :  '  Our  president  took,  it  is  believed,  an  imprudent,  if  not  an 
illegal  course,  in  order  to  prevent  that  report  from  being  acted  on.' 
But  the  bishop  told  the  conference  several  times  over  '  that  we 
would  take  time  at  the  close  to  attend  to  that  report,  and  that  the 
last  evening  he  advised  them  to  adjourn  till  the  next  day,  and 
examine  the  report  deliberately — that  he  was  willing  to  stay  three 
days  for  it,  if  necessary.'  Brother  Scott  ought  to  have  published  all 
this,  if  he  published  anything.  Brother  Scott  admitted  the  above  to  • 
be  true. 

"  9.  Brother  Scott  represents  to  the  public,  '  that  he  presumes  a 
majority  of  the  conference  think  the  bishop  oppressed  them ;'  and 
yet,  at  the  close,  the  conference  gave  the  bishop  a  vote  of  thanks  by 
a  unanimous  vote ;  and  he  said  in  our  presence  at  Lynn,  '  he  pre- 
sumed HE  voted  for  it.' 

"  On  the  statements  relating  to  the  powers  of  a  bishop,  in  regula- 
ting the  business  of  a  conference,  Bishop  Hedding  said  he  had  no 
controversy  with  him,  as  it  was  with  both  of  them  a  matter  of  opinion. 

"  In  our  opinion,  the  letter  addressed  to  Bishop  Hedding  is  not 
only  incorrect  in  point  of  facts,  but  is  greatly  wanting  in  ministerial 
courtesy,  such  as  should  be  manifested  between  equals,  and  espe- 
cially be  shown  by  a  junior  toward  a  senior — a  superintendent  and 
a  father  in  our  Israel. 

"  Finally,  of  all  the  men  we  have  ever  known,  either  in  civil  or 
ecclesiastical  ofl&ce.  Bishop  Hedding  is  the  last  who  ought  to  be  held 
up  to  the  world  as  an  oppressor  and  a  tyrant, 

(Signed)  "  Timothy  Mekritt, 

"  Daxiel  Flllmoke, 

"  Lynn,  May  26,  1837.''  "  T.  C.  Peirce." 


1837.]     THE   NEW-HAMPSHIRE   CONFERENCE.  503 

"The  statements  that  the  bishop  exercised  'zeal 
to  put  down  the  abolitionists,'  that  he  showed  a 
spirit  of  'disdain'  at  the  last  General  Conference, 
that  he  'removed  a  presiding  elder  from  his  dis- 
trict for  the  simple  reason  that  he  could  not  give 
satisfactory  assurance  that  he  would  not  agitate  the 
question  of  slavery  and  abolition  in  future,  by  lectur- 
ing and  writing  on  those  subjects,'  and  that  'there 
seemed  to  be  a  decided  hostility  to  the  anti-slavery 
brethren,'  are  mistakes,  and  they  are  hereby  re- 
tracted. 

"  Also,  those  statements  which  represent  the  bishop 
as  'oj)pressing  and  aggrieving'  the  IS'ew-England 
Conference  at  its  session  in  1836,  as  denying  them 
their  'rights,'  acting  with  'partiality'  among  them, 
and  all  similar  imputations,  are  admitted  to  be  errors, 
and  are  hereby  recalled. 

"  Orange  Scott." 

"Nantucket,  June  13,  1837." 

When  these  retractions  had  been  made,  the 
brethren  who  had  preferred  charges  against  Mr. 
Scott  withdrew  them.  Here  Mr.  Hedding  hoped 
the  matter  would  end.  Indeed,  he  hoped  further 
that  relations  of  Christian  amity  might  be  pre- 
served between  himself  and  the  accused,  and  also 
that  the  latter  would  return  to  his  regular  work. 

Tlie  Kew-Hampshire  Conference  occurred  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  ]^ew-England.  Here  Bishop 
Hedding  found  himself  placed  in  circumstances 


504  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

where  official  duty  compelled  him  to  give  further 
and  still  greater  offence  to  the  nltra-abohtionists. 
There  were  two  occasions  for  this  offence.  First, 
a  motion  was  made  to  appoint  a  committee  on 
slavery,  l^e-hish^  proposedr-4o~4mt,_the_motion 
on  several  conditions,  which  he  specified.  The  prin- 
cipal of  these  conditions  were,  first,  "  The  conference 
shall  not  act  on  the  report  of  said  committee  till  that 
part  of  the  conference  business  is  finished  which  is 
necessary  to  prepare  for  fixing  the  appointments  of 
the  preachers;"  and,  second,  "K,  in  the  judgment 
of  the  president,  the  report  of  the  said  committee 
shall  contain  any  article  contrary  to  the  Disci- 
pline of  our  Church,  or  contrary  to  the  advice 
of  the  General  Conference,  as  expressed  in  the 
Pastoral  Address  of  that  body,  bearing  date  May 
26,  1836,  it  is  understood  and  admitted  that  he,  the 
said  president,  is  under  no  obligation  to  put  to  vote 
any  motion  to  adopt  said  report."  These  condi- 
tions were  not  accepted  by  the  conference,  and,  con- 
sequently, the  committee  was  not  appointed. 

The  second  occasion  of  offence  occurred  near  the 
close  of  the  conference.  One  of  the  members  offered 
a  resolution  "highly  disapproving"  of  the  action  of 
"the  Baltimore  Annual  Conference"  in  relation  to 
the  meaning  of  the  General  Rule  forbidding  the 
huying  and  selling  of  men^  women,  and  children 
with  a/n  intention  to  ensla/ve  them.  The  resolution 
offered  not  only  introduced  the  subject  acted  upon 
by  the  Baltimore  Annual  Conference,  but  specified 


1837.1       BISHOP   IIEDDING'S   VINDICATION.  505 

the  conference  and  arraigned  its  action.  Bishop 
Hedding  immediately  refvsB^  to  put  the  motion  for 
the  adoption  of  this  resolution,  assigning  as  his 
reason  that  it  would  bring  the  two  conferences  into 
collision  with  each  other ;  that  it  was  not  competent 
in  our  economy  for  one  annual  conference  to  pass 
judgment  upon  the  acts  of  another,  each  annual 
conference  being  amenable  to  the  General  Con- 
ference only  for  its  individual  action;  and  further, 
that  such  a  course,  if  persisted  in,  would  reduce  the 
Church  to  a  state  of  anarchy  and  confusion. 

As  it  was  claimed  by  many  that  in  this  decision, 
and  in  that  made  at  the  New-England  Conference 
the  preceding  year.  Bishop  Hedding  had  transcended 
the  limits  of  his  authority,  he  deemed  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  give  an  exposition  of  his  views  upon  the 
subject,  and  vindicate  himself  from  such  charges. 
Tliis  he  did  in  an  able  speech  delivered  before  the 
conference.  This  speech,  as  occasion  called  for  it, 
was  subsequently  repeated  before  several  other  con- 
ferences, and  finally  published  at  the  request  of  the 
Oneida  and  Genesee  Annual  Conferences.  The  fol- 
lowing extracts  give  the  arguments  of  the  bishop 
that  specially  bear  upon  the  point  at  issue  : — 

"  Much  has  been  said  respecting  the  duties  of  the 
president  of  an  annual  conference,  and  the  rights  of 
such  a  conference.  Both  the  duties  of  the  presi- 
dent and  the  rights  of  conference  are  laid  down  in 
the  book  of  Discipline.  The  president  is  authorized 
to  appoint  the  day  of  the  ordinations,  (Discipline, 


506  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

pp.  119,  124;)  consequently,  it  is  liis  right  so  to 
arrange  the  business  as  to  prepare  for  the  ordina- 
tions. 

"  The  Discipline  also  gives  the  president  the  right 
to  close  the  conference  in  a  week  from  the  com- 
mencement, if  he  can  get  through  the  proper  con- 
ference business  in  that  time.  (See  Discipline, 
p.  23.)  'They  shall  allow  the  annual  conferences 
to  sit  a  week  at  least.'  This  includes  the  right  so 
to  arrange  the  business  as  to  close  in  a  week,  if 
practicable  and  necessary.  And  it  is  well  the  presi- 
dent has  that  right ;  for,  if  he  had  it  not,  contentious 
men  might  prolong  the  session  to  an  unreasonable 
and  burdensome  length.  But,  though  the  bishops 
have  that  right,  they  have  always,  so  far  as  I  know, 
yielded  to  the  wishes  and  requests  of  brethren 
when  they  could  do  so  consistently  with  the  general 
business  of  the  conference,  with  the  responsibility 
to  the  General  Conference,  and  their  duty  to  the 
whole  Church. 

"It  has  been  contended  that  the  president  of  an 
annual  conference  ought  to  put  to  vote  every  resolu- 
tion that  is  offered ;  but  this  is  too  absurd  to  be  be- 
lieved by  any  considerate  man  who  understands  our 
plan  of  Church  government.  Under  constitutional 
restrictions,  this  is  true  of  the  General  Conference, 
but  not  of  an  annual  conference.  The  real  question 
in  debate  is.  Whether  a  president  is  under  obligation 
to  put  to  vote  any  and  every  resolution  an  annual 
conference  may  wish  to  adopt  ? 


1837.]    ANNUAL  CONFERENCE   NOT   PKIMART.  507 

"  An  annual  conference  is  not  a  primary,  inde- 
pendent body.  Though  it  was  so  originally,  when 
there  was  but  one  annual  conference  at  the  time  our 
Church  was  organized,  in  the  year  1Y84,  it  is  not  so 
now.  When  there  was  but  one  annual  conference, 
that  was  also  the  General  Conference.  After  our 
Church  was  organized,  the  primary,  independent 
conference  met  once  in  four  years,  under  the  name 
of  General  Conference,  consisting  of  all  the  travelling 
preachei*s  in  full  connexion ;  then,  for  a  time,  of  all 
the  travelling  elders,  and  thus  it  continued  till  1808. 
The  General  Conference  continued  to  exercise  the 
same  powei-s  the  original  conference  did  when  the 
Church  was  organized.  During  this  time,  from  1784 
to  1808,  temporary  annual  conferences  were  held,  to 
do  particular  business,  which  could  not  be  deferred 
four  years.  The  bounds  of  the  annual  conferences 
were  fixed  sometimes  by  the  bishops,  and  sometimes 
by  the  General  Conference  ;  yet  no  one  of  the  annual 
conferences  was  the  primary  body,  but  only  a  part 
of  it. 

"  Since  the  establishment  of  the  delegated  General 
Conference,  which  was  provided  for  in  1808,  the 
whole  travelling  connexion  has  been  supposed  to  be 
present  once  in  four  years,  by  representation,  in 
General  Conference  assembled,  and  has  continued  to 
be  the  primary  body — the  same  as  that  which  organ- 
ized the  Church.  And  as  the  present  annual  con- 
ferences are  controlled,  divided,  and  bound  by  the 
General  Conference,  and  as  any  one  of  them  may  be 

22 


608  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1837. 

scattered  into  other  conferences,  and  thus  annihilated, 
it  is  plain  they  are  neither  primary  nor  independent 
bodies. 

"  An  annual  conference  is  constituted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference ;  it  is  dependent  on,  and  responsible 
to  it.  And  the  General  Conference  has  told  the  an- 
nual conference  what  to  do ;  its  duty  and  rights  are 
laid  down  in  the  Discipline.  That  is  its  charter,  and  it 
has  no  other  rights  as  a  conference,  only  those  which 
are  granted  either  by  statute  or  by  fair  inference  in 
that  charter. 

"You  have  other  rights  as  men,  and  as  Christians, 
and  as  Methodist  preachers,  but  not  as  an  annual 
conference.  The  General  Conference  appoints  your 
president,  and  you  and  he  are  obliged  by  law  to  do 
just  what  the  Discipline  tells  you,  and  no  more.  I 
say  you  are  not  obliged  to  do  any  more.  Therefore, 
the  conference  cannot  compel  the  president  to  do  any 
more,  and  the  president  cannot  compel  the  conference 
to  do  any  more.  If  they  do  more,  they  do  it  by  mu- 
tual agreement  between  the  conference  and  the  presi- 
dent, and  both  are  responsible  for  what  they  do ;  but 
the  president  is  so  in  a  higher  degree  than  the  confer- 
ence, for  he  may  be  punished  for  the  transaction  of 
improper  business  in  an  annual  conference  to  a  degree 
the  conference  cannot.  They  may  call  what  they  do, 
over  and  above  their  duty,  conference  business,  if  they 
please,  and  place  it  on  the  journals,  and  if  no  harm  is 
done  no  one  will  complain.  But  if  either  party,  the 
conference  or  the  president,  refuses  to  do  more  than 


1837.] 


EIGHT    AND  COUETEST. 


509 


the  Discipline  reqnires  or  authorizes,  the  other  party 
cannot  justly  complain. 

"  The  annual  conference  can  do  no  business  with- 
out the  president.  They  cannot  remove  him  from 
the  chair,  nor  appoint  another,  unless  the  lawful 
president  be  absent,  and  fail  of  appointing  a  presi- 
dent, which,  in  that  case,  he  has  a  right  to  do. 

"In  conferences  where  there  are  slaves  and  slave- 
owners, the  question  of  slavery  might  come  up  as 
proper  conference  business,  and  often  does  so.  It 
might  there  be  said,  'I  object  to  this  preacher  be- 
cause he  has  sold  a  slave;'  or,  'I  object  to  that  one 
because  he  does  not  emancipate  his  slaves.'  But  in 
this  conference,  where  you  have  no  jurisdiction  over 
slaves  or  slave  owners,  it  is  impossible  to  make  it  ap- 
pear that  you  have  any  authority  in  the  case.  You 
might,  indeed,  recommend  to  the  General  Conference 
new  rules,  or  alterations  of  the  old  ones;  but  that 
would  be  a  very  different  thing  from  the  subject  of 
which  we  have  been  speaking. 

"The  DiscipHne  does  not  require  the  president  to 
do  this  kind  of  business ;  he  has  never  promised  to 
do  it,  and  the  conference  has  no  authority  to  command 
him  to  do  it. 

"Yet,  though  I  am  under  no  obligation,  on  the 
ground  of  ^  rig  Jit, ^  to  put  any  such  question  to  vote; 
stiU,  on  the  groimd  of  courtesy,  I  would  do  it  most 
cheerfully  if  I  could  consistently  with  other  and 
higher  obhgations. 

"The  moment  I  step  beyond  the  law,  and  put  any 


510  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1837. 

question  to  vote  which  that  does  not  require  or  au- 
thorize, I  act  voluntarily,  and  I  alone  am  responsible 
for  my  own  act.  What  I  have  claimed  on  this  sub- 
ject is,  a  right  to  judge  of  my  own  duty  in  acts  not 
required  by  the  Discipline.  But  this  'righf  certain 
men  have  attempted  to  wi'est  from  me,  by  claiming 
the  right  to  govern  me ;  and  because  I  was  not  willing 
to  submit,  they  have  made  this  terrible  outcry  you 
have  heard  about  the  loss  of  'rights,'  which,  in  my 
opinion,  they  never  possessed. 

"  It  has  been  said,  '  It  is  the  prerogative  of  the 
[annual]  conference  to  decide  lohat  business  they 
wiU  do,  and  when  they  will  do  it.'  But  I  deny  it. 
This  is  assuming  the  rights  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  usurping  the  control  over  the  president  of 
an  annual  conference,  which  no  body  of  men  have  a 
right  to  exercise  but  the  General  Conference.  And 
because  I  was  unwilling  to  submit  to  this  usurpation 
I  have  been  severely  censm'ed.  I  have  been  unjustly 
and  cruelly  held  up  to  public  view,  by  certain  incon- 
siderate writers,  as  one  who  infringed  on  the  'rights' 
of  my  brethren,  merely  because  I  did  not  consent  to 
do  what  I  was  under  no  obligation  to  do,  what  I  was 
bound  by  no  law  to  do,  and  what  I  have  never  prom- 
ised to  do.  And  more  than  this,  the  acts  I  was  called 
upon  to  do  were  such  as  I  believed  it  wrong  for  me 
to  do ;  and  this,  I  believe,  was  well  understood  by 
those  who  have  censured  me. 

"The  men  who  have  written  against  me,  have 
written  against  the  General  Conference  also;  and 


1837.]  TO   WHOM    A    BISHOP    IS    RESPONSIBLE.  511 

hereby  have  clearly  shown  that  they  disregarded  the 
authority  of  the  Church  in  any  department,  unless  it 
shall  consent  to  adopt  their  creed  and  to  follow  their 
measures.  There  has  appeared  to  be  a  strong  desire 
in  these  men  to  drive  me  into  measures  which  they 
knew  I  believed  to  be  wrong,  and  which  they 
knew  also  would  be  likely  to  bring  me  into  colli- 
sion with  the  General  Conference,  as  well  as  with 
some  of  the  annual  conferences.  Censures^  hints 
of  wrongs  where  no  wrongs  were,  and  even  threats, 
have  been  employed  to  accomplish  this  work  of 
tyranny. 

"If  an  annual  conference  possessed  such  rights 
as  these  writers  have  supposed,  it  might  legally  cen- 
sure the  very  General  Conference  who  gives  it  ex- 
istence, and  do  other  things  which  would  scatter  our 
connexion  to  the  four  winds.  And  yet,  because  I 
could  not  consistently  acknowledge  such  'rights,'  I 
have  been  indirectly  accused  of  attempting  to  '  kule  ' 
a  conference.  I  have  attempted  no  such  thing :  I 
have  only  claimed  the  right  to  rule  myself  in  my 
official  duties, — to  judge  for  myself,  as  I  must  answer 
for  myself,  what  it  is  lawful  and  expedient  for  me  to 
do  ;  that  is,  what  motion  I  may  or  may  not  properly 
put  to  vote  in  an  annual  conference.  And  although 
I  could  not  with  propriety  submit  a  question  of  this 
sort  to  the  dictation  of  a  few  individuals,  or  to  the 
decision  of  an  annual  conference,  yet  I  have  uni- 
formly acknowledged  my  responsibility  to  the  Gene- 
ral Conference,  whose  agent  I  am,  and  to  whom  I  am 


512  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

amenable  for  acting  or  not  acting  in  all  such  cases. 
Yet  individuals  have  demanded  of  me,  on  the  ground 
of  'rights,'  services  which  the  General  Conference 
never  required,  and  thereby  have  attempted  to  gov- 
ern me. 

"This  subject  has  been  connected  with  the  'rights' 
of  our  people  to  send  petitions  to  the  annual  con- 
ference. That  the  people  have  a  right  to  petition  the 
general  or  annual  conference,  I  cheerfully  admit; 
and  that  an  annual  conference  ought  to  attend  to 
their  petitions  on  all  business  which  the  Discipline 
requires  such  conference  to  do,  I  admit  also ;  and  this 
is  all  the  business  we  have  covenanted  with  the  peo- 
ple to  do  in  an  annual  conference.  But  when  they 
petition  us  to  do  such  things  as  are  foreign  to  our 
duty,  I  deny  their  right  to  require  us  to  spend  our 
time  and  strength  in  doing  those  things.  K  they  ask 
us  to  do  a  thing  for  them  as  a  favour,  we  will  cheer- 
fully do  it  if  we  can  consistently ;  but  if  they  demand 
such  services  as  a  'right,'  they  must  allow  us  to  judge 
of  our  own  obligations  and  duties. 

"Tlie  great  subject  on  which  this  demand  on  our 
time  and  services  is  claimed,  is  slavery.  And  I  have 
never  refused  to  attend  to  it  in  annual  conferences,  so 
far  as  my  time,  health,  and  obligations  to  the  whole 
Church  would  admit.  But  what  I  have  done,  I  have 
done  on  principles  of  courtesy,  not  on  the  ground  of 
obligation  or  'right;'  for  it  is  proper  for  me  to  do 
many  things  to  oblige  my  friends,  which  neither 
friends  nor  enemies  could  demand  of  me  on  the 


1837.]   WILLINGNESS    TO    OBLIGE    BEETHEEN.  513 


ground  of  'eights.'  And  my  respected  colleague, 
who  has  been  represented  to  the  public  as  taking  to 
himself  undue  authority  at  the  last  session  of  the 
Xew-England  Conference,  acted,  so  far  as  I  know,  on 
the  same  principle  I  have.  He  offered  to  put  to  vote 
a  motion  to  appoint  a  committee  to  consider  and  re- 
port on  petitions  and  memorials  from  the  people  on 
that  subject,  on  such  conditions  as  he  deemed  con- 
sistent with  his  obligations  to  the  General  Conference 
and  to  the  whole  Church.  But  his  conditions  were 
rejected ;  and  the  reason  why  he  declined  to  proceed 
and  act  in  the  case  was,  claims  were  made  on  the 
part  of  the  friends  of  modern  abolitionism  to  which 
the  president  could  not,  in  his  judgment,  constitution- 
ally submit.  For  they  claimed  the  ^  rigfit^  as  a  con- 
ference, to  appoint  a  committee  to  consider  and  re- 
port on  said  memorials,  as  also  the  'right''  to  act  in  a 
conference  capacity  on  any  report  of  such  committee. 
And  although,  as  has  been  reported,  the  president 
did  not  allow  an  appeal  to  that  body,  as  he  considered 
it  a  question  of  law,  yet  he  distinctly  admitted  that 
the  conference  had  the  right  to  carry  the  subject  up 
to  the  General  Conference. 

"  Although  I  cannot,  any  more  than  my  colleague, 
admit  what  some  brethren  have  claimed  as  righU^ 
on  this  subject,  yet  I  am  willing  now,  as  I  have 
always  been,  to  do  anything  I  can  do  constitution- 
ally and  safely  to  oblige  brethren.  But  I  cannot 
act  as  some  have  wished,  and  as  I  suppose  some  of 
you  wish  me  to  act,  because  I  not  only  believe  such 


514  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1837. 

act  would  be  useless,  but  lorong  and  injurious.  It 
would  injure  other  conferences,  and  that  I  cannot 
do ;  for  I  am  superintendent — -jointly  with  my  col- 
leagues— of  the  whole  Church;  I  am  required  to 
'oversee  the  spiritual  business'  of  the  whole;  I  am 
related  alike  to  all  the  conferences;  therefore,  I 
ought  not  to  do  anything  in  one  conference  which 
I  know  has  a  tendency  to  injure  another." 

Then  referring  to  the  specific  subject  upon  which 
it  was  proposed  to  take  action,  the  bishop  adds: — 
"Another  reason  why  I  cannot  enter  into  these 
measures,  and  act  on  them  as  conference  business, 
is,  I  am  advised  not  to  do  so,  and  that  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.  In  theii*  'Pastoral  Address'  of 
May  26,  1836,  they  advise  us  all  to  abstain  from 
all  such  movements.  Tliis  advice  was  given  by  the 
highest  authority  in  the  Church^ — by  the  body  to 
which  I  am  responsible — by  the  collected  wisdom 
of  our  religious  community — by  nearly  all  the  dele- 
gates of  all  the  annual  conferences,  which  was  the 
same  in  principle  as  all  the  annual  conferences  in 
General  Conference  assembled,  and  by  that  body  of 
men  who  know  more  on  that  subject  than  any  other 
in  this  nation.  A  body  of  Christian  ministers,  col- 
lected from  nearly  all  parts  of  this  nation,  who, 
for  piety,  benevolence,  wisdom,  zeal,  labours,  and 
sufferings  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  will  not  suffer  by 
comparison  Mth  any  other  body  of  the  same  num- 
ber, after  solemnly  dehberating  on  this  subject, 
have,  in  their  official  capacity,  given  me  this  advice. 


1837.]       UNIFORMITY    OF   ADMINISTRATION.  515 

And,  whatever  others  may  think  of  it,  I  am  relig- 
iously bound  to  govern  myself  by  it." 

He  still  further  remarks : — "  I  have  been  indirectly 
and  repeatedly  charged  before  the  public  with  par- 
tiality, because,  in  some  conferences,  I  have  put  to 
vote  resolutions  relating  to  this  subject,  but  have 
objected  to  doing  so  in  other  conferences.  But  my 
course  has  been  steady  and  uniform.  In  some  con- 
ferences I  have  put  to  vote  resolutions  which,  in  my 
judgment,  tended  to  allay  improper  excitement,  to 
prevent  discord,  and  to  promote  peace.  In  others, 
I  have  declined  putting  resolutions  to  vote  which 
I  believed  to  be  of  a  contrary  tendency,  and  in  these 
measures  I  believe  I  have  done  my  duty. 

"  On  this  principle,  and  on  no  other,  I  am  willing 
to  act  with  you  in  this  conference ;  for  the  claim 
on  the  ground  of  '  conference  right,'  to  compel  me 
to  attend  to  this  business,  I  think,  will  now  no 
longer  be  assumed;  but  if  it  should,  there  are  two 
other  considerations  which  alone,  if  nothing  had 
been  said,  would  settle  the  question  in  the  minds 
of  all  men  who  judge  without  prepossession,  and 
who  are  acquainted  with  our  system  of  Church 
government.  One  of  them  is,  when  an  annual  con- 
ference, in  conference  capacity,  has  done  those 
articles  of  business  the  Discipline  requires,  it  has 
finished  its  duty,  as  a  conference,  for  that  session, 
and  any  member,  or  the  president,  is  at  perfect 
liberty  to  desist,  and  do  no  more.  If  the  conference 
or  the  president  does  any  more  business,  it  is  done  on 

22^ 


516  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

the  principle  of  courtesy :  it  may  be  right  in  itself, 
but  it  cannot  be   demanded  on  the  ground  of 

'  EIGHTS.' 

"  It  ought  to  be  further  remembered,  that  the 
Discipline  gives  the  president  the  right  of  appoint- 
ing the  times  of  the  several  annual  conferences; 
and  the  interests  of  the  Church  often  require  that 
one  conference  be  appointed  at  so  short  a  time  after 
another,  that  there  would  be  no  more  time  than  to 
do  the  business  the  Discipline  requires  in  the  first, 
in  season  for  the  president  to  travel  to  the  second. 
Now,  if  any  number  of  the  preachers,  or  even  a 
whole  conference,  had  authority,  on  the  ground  of 
the  new  doctrine  of  '  conference  right,'  to  compel 
a  president  to  remain  at  one  conference  more  than  a 
week,  to  do  other  business,  over  and  above  what 
the  Discipline  requires,  then  that  conference  might 
hinder  his  going  to  the  next  one.  Also,  on  this 
supposition,  one  conference  might  rightfully  pre- 
vent the  president  attending  all  the  others  for  the 
season ;  for  if  a  conference,  by  '  rigJit^  could  detain 
a  president  one  hour  beyond  the  time  before  named, 
by  the  same  'right'  they  might  detain  him  a  month, 
or  a  year,  and  altogether  hinder  his  doing  his 
duty  in  all  the  other  conferences — the  supposition 
of  which  is  absurd. 

"I  think  it  must  now  plainly  appear,  that  the 
assumed  'rights'  claimed  by  those  who  have  under- 
taken to  rule  in  this  matter,  if  admitted  and  carried 
out  into  practice,  would  completely  prostrate  the 


1837.] 


GOLDEN-KULE  ARGUMENT. 


617 


government  of  our  Church,  and  throw  all  her  great 
plans  and  interests  into  utter  confusion." 

Another  item  in  this  very  able  document,  though 
it  has  only  an  incidental  relation  to  the  point  now 
before  us,  we  beg  leave  to  introduce,  because  of 
the  wide  celebrity  it  has  attained.  It  reads  as  fol- 
lows:— "But  it  will  be  asked,  What  right  has  any 
member  of- our  Church  to  own  a  slave?  Before  I 
answer  this  question  I  will  just  say,  and  I  wish 
what  I  now  say  to  be  distinctly  remembered,  I  am 
ready  to  disapprove  the  slave-trctde^  the  system  of 
slavery^  including  all  the  unjust  and  cruel  rights 
which  any  laws  are  supposed  to  give,  and  all  the 
injustice  and  cruelties  inflicted  on  slaves,  as  decidedly 
as  Mr.  Wesley  did. 

"  But  all  these  points  are  aside  of  the  main  ques- 
tion. The  main  question  is.  What  right  have  any  of 
our  members  to  hold  slaves?  Or,  What  right  has 
the  Church  to  allow  them  to  hold  slaves?  Lest  I 
be  misunderstood,  before  I  proceed  I  beg  you  to 
observe  that  owning,  or  holding  a  slave,  does  not 
include  exercising  all  the  rights  which  the  laws  are 
supposed  to  give  the  master  over  the  servant,  but 
only  such  as  are  necessary  for  the  good  of  the 
servant  and  the  safety  of  the  master,  all  the  cir- 
cumstances being  taken  into  the  account.  ISTow  let 
us  answer  the  question.  The  right  to  hold  a  slave 
is  founded  on  this  rule :  '  Therefore,  all  things  what- 
soever ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye 
even  so  to  them:  for  this  is  the  law  and  the  pro- 


518 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1837. 


phets.'  Matt,  vii,  12.  All  acts  in  relation  to  slavery, 
as  weU  as  to  every  other  subject,  which  cannot  be 
performed  in  obedience  to  this  rule,  are  to  be  con- 
demned, and  ought  not  to  be  tolerated  in  the 
Church.  If  no  case  can  be  found  where  a  man  can 
own  a  slave,  and  in  that  act  obey  this  rule,  then 
there  is  no  case  in  which  slave-owning  can  be 

justmea."  ^        tL^.^     -  <-   ^^^Ji^  j 

Do  not  be  alarmed,  gentle  reader ;  this  is  Bishop 
Hedding's  celebrated  "Golden-Rule  Argument  to 
justify  American  Slavery."  Analyze  it;  see  what  it 
amounts  to.  Why,  just  this.  Tlie  bishop  disap- 
proves of  "  the  simert/rade  and  the  system  of  slmery^ 
including  all  the  unjust  and  cruel  rights  which  any 
laws  are  supposed  to  give,  and  all  the  injustice  and 
cruelties  inflicted  on  slaves;"  and  further,  he  ex- 
plicity  declares  that  "  if  no  case  can  be  fomid  where 
a  man  can  own  a  slave,  and  in  that  act  obey  the 
'golden  rule,'  then  there  is  no  case  in  which  slave- 
owning  can  be  justified."  But  he  does  state  that 
under  certain  circumstances,  which  he  thus  substan- 
tially specifies, — "the  exercising  of  such  rights  as 
the  law  is  supposed  to  give  the  master  over  the 
slave  only  so  far  as  they  are  necessary  for  the  good 
of  the  servant  and  the  safety  of  the  master," — under 
these  circumstances,  "the  right  to  hold  a  slave  is 
founded  on  this  rule:  'Therefore,  all  things  what- 
soever ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them :  for  this  is  the  law  and  the 
prophets.' " 


1837.1  EXERCISE    OF   PREROGATIVE.  519 

Bishop  Hedding  had  now  committed  "  the  unpar- 
donable sin."  Had  he  uttered  blasphemy  on  the 
conference  floor,  a  greater  outcry  could  not  have 
been  raised.  This  passage — "The  right  to  hold  a 
slave  is  founded  on  this  rule :  '  Therefore,  all  things 
whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you, 
do  ye  even  so  to  them :  for  this  is  the  law  and  the 
prophets,' "  Matt,  vii,  12 — was  segregated  from  its 
connections  and  explanatory  clauses,  and  heralded 
over  the  land  as  Bishop  Hedding's  "golden-rule 
argument  in  defence  of  slavery."  A  more  palpable 
outrage  upon  all  the  principles  of  fair  and  honest 
dealing  was  never  perpetrated.  Yet  so  industriously 
was  the  libel  circulated,  and  so  boldly  was  it 
emblazoned  before  the  world,  that  multitudes,  even 
of  our  own  members  and  ministers,  were  deluded 
into  the  belief  that  Bishop  Hedding  had  actually 
attempted  to  justify  the  system  of  slavery  upon  this 
ground.  In  fact,  it  was  some  yeara  before  the  public 
mind  was  disabused  upon  the  subject. 

The  ruhng  which  was  made  by  Bishop  Hedding 
with  regard  to  the  introduction  of  extraneous  matter, 
or  business  not  prescribed  in  the  Discipline,  into  the 
annual  conferences,  was  sustained  by  all  his  col- 
leagues. In  respect  to  the  quarterly  conferences,  in 
some  instances  presiding  eldei-s  had  felt  constrained 
to  take  the  same  position. 

The  question  very  naturally  arises.  Was  there  any 
necessity  for  exercising  what  seemed  to  be  the  full 
extent  of  episcopal  authority,  and  what  was  regarded 


520  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1837. 

by  many  as  an  unwarrantable  stretch  of  that  authority? 
To  ascertain  this,  we  have  only  to  glance  at  some  of 
the  resolutions  it  was  proposed  to  pass.  We  have 
already  given  an  instance  in  which  it  was  proposed 
in  one  annual  conference  to  censure  another.  About 
this  time,  in  one  of  the  quarterly  conferences  on  the 
Meadville  District,  Erie  Conference,  it  was  proposed 
to  pass  resolutions  condemnatory  of  the  action  of  the 
preceding  Erie  Annual  Conference.  The  presiding 
elder.  Rev.  H.  Kinsley,  aiTCsted  what  he  considered 
revolutionary  action  by  refusing  to  put  the  vote.  In 
Marshfield,  Massachusetts,  resolutions  were  offered  in 
the  quarterly  conference  charging  the  bishops  and 
presiding  elders  with  the  assumption  of  authority  "  ut- 
terly unsupported  by  either  the  letter  or  spirit  of  our 
Discipline ;"  and  othei-s,  in  Duxbury,  Massachusetts, 
reprobating  the  "  system  of  oppression  and  persecu- 
tion set  up  and  prosecuted  by  the  New- York  Confer- 
ence against  the  abolitionists.."  In  both  these  cases 
the  presiding  elder,  Rev.  B.  Otheman,  stated  to  the 
brethren  that  he  could  not  consent  to  put  resolutions 
which  arraigned  the  bishops  and  annual  conferences 
to  vote  ;  both  the  bishops  and  the  annual  conferences 
were  amenable  to  the  General  Conference,  and  the 
proper  modes  of  arresting  their  action,  and  reversing 
it  if  wrong,  were  open  to  them ;  but  for  quarterly 
conferences  to  take  such  action  as  was  proposed,  was 
disorderly  and  revolutionary.  In  the  latter  case,  the 
members  of  the  quarterly  conference,  after  the  pre- 
siding elder  had  left  the  house,  remained  and  passed 


1837.]        O.    SCOTT   AGAIN   IN   THE   FIELD.  521 


a  resolution  condemning  his  course  as  "  contrary  to 
the  Discipline  and  usages  of  the  Church — a  violation 
of  their  rights  as  men  and  Christians."  Any  one  will 
perceive  that  had  there  been  no  power  competent  to 
an*est  such  proceedings,  the  whole  Church  must  have 
been  thrown  into  a  state  of  anarchy,  with  hostile  fac- 
tions making  war  upon  each  other. 

But  we  must  now  return  to  trace  the  course  of 
Bishop  Hedding,  while  providentially  thrown  into  the 
midst  of  one  of  the  most  exciting  popular  movements 
ever  witnessed  in  this  country. 

We  have  already  observed,  that  when  he  had 
obtained  what  was  considered  by  all  parties  a  just 
and  honourable  retraction  of  the  misstatements  that 
had  been  made  by  Mr.  Scott,  he  fondly  hoped  that 
his  personal  as  well  as  official  collisions  with  that 
brother  were  at  an  end.  This  reasonable  hope,  how- 
ever, was  doomed  to  a  speedy  disappointment.  The 
conference  granted  Mr.  Scott  a  supernumerary  rela- 
tion, and  he  wished  to  be  left  without  an  appointment. 
Bishop  Waugh,  however,  appointed  him  to  Wilbra- 
ham,  and  placed  him  in  charge  of  the  station.  From 
his  pastoral  charge  he  was  soon  released  by  the  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  district,  and  immediately  engaged 
in  the  work  of  an  anti-slavery  lecturer.*  Being  thus 
released  from  his  charge,  the  bishop  found  him  stir- 
ring up  the  elements  of  discord  at  every  subsequent 
conference  he  attended  for  the  season.  Though  ex- 
ceedingly afflicted  by  the  perversion  of  his  acts  and 

"  Scott's  Memoirs,  p.  118. 


522  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1837. 

motives,  and  the  ridicule  to  which  he  was  constantly 
subjected  in  the  lectures  of  Messrs.  Scott  and  Storrs, 
the  bishop  carefully  arvoided  an  open  ruptui*e,  and 
maintained  himself  in  respect  to  the  whole  matter  as 
became  his  position  and  duty.  lie  felt  aggrieved, 
however,  to  receive  such  treatment  from  those  who 
had  been  his  friends,  and  with  whom  he  had  for  so 
many  years  maintained  Christian  fellowship  and  in- 
tercourse. 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  Scott's  "retractions"  at  the 
session  of  the  l^ew-England  Conference  in  1836,  he 
repeated  the  offence  by  republishing  substantially  the 
same  letter  soon  after  the  session  closed,  and  also  by 
sundry  letters  published  during  the  year,  containing 
allegations  equally  offensive  and  misrepresentations 
equally  unjust. 

It  is  perhaps  due  to  the  reader,  as  well  as  to  the 
memory  of  Bishop  Hedding,  to  place  some  of  these 
allegations  upon  record,  that  the  provocations  he 
received  may  be  better  understood.  From  "]^o.  7" 
of  Orange  Scott's  "Letters  to  Dr.  Fisk,"  over  the 
signature  of  "Wesleyan,"  and  published  in  Zion's 
"Watchman,  August  5,  1837,  we  take  the  following 
specimens :  "  An  unprecedented  and  most  painful 
crisis  has  arrived  in  the  annals  of  Methodism !  Two 
of  our  bishops  have  assumed  rights  which,  if  carried 
out  and  applied  to  all  parts  of  our  beautiful  super- 
structure, would  prove  its  destruction.  In  three  sem- 
eral  instcmces  have  annual  conferences,  since  the  last 
General  Conference,  been  deprived  of  their  rights — 


1837.]  BISHOPS    CHARGED   WITH    OPPRESSION.  523 

rights  of  conscience — rights  to  express  an  opinion  on 
a  moral  question."  The  itaKcising  is  in  the  original. 
Again :  Two  of  them  [the  bishops]  have  assumed 
the  astonishing  power  over  annual  conferences  which 
prevents  them  from  exercising  their  rights  of  con- 
science and  of  opinion."  And  again:  "For  the  un- 
parliamentary and  unprecedented  course  which  some 
of  the  bishops  have  taken,  as  presiding  oflBcei"s,  they 
alone  are  responsible  !  I  doubt  whether  in  the  annals 
of  sacred  and  profane  history,  among  civihzed  nations, 
for  assumption  of  power,  as  presiding  officers,  a  jpar- 
allel  can  he  found Still  again:  "It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  bishop  will  recede  from  his  new 
measures  in  his  administration  on  the  slavery  ques- 
tion. He  must  do  THIS,  or  the  Church  will  be  rent 
limb  from  limb.  There  are  several  of  om-  annual 
conferences  that  never  can^  and  never  will  submit  to 
such  oppressive  measures!"  In  the  same  letter  he 
intimates  that  the  "corrections"  already  noticed  were 
signed,  not  from  any  conviction  that  '^strict  justice"^^ 
to  Bishop  Hedding  required  them,  but  as  "  a  peace 
offering,"  and  from  this  motive  he  had  consented  to 
"give  the  bishop  his  price  P  He  also  gives  it  as  the 
opinion  of  many,  that  he  had  committed  "  an  act  of 
injustice  to  himself  in  giving  the  corrections  to  the 
bishop"  without  certain  restrictions  as  to  theii*  pub- 
lication; and  also  that  "the  corrections  themselves 
were  uncalled  for." 

In  another  letter  published  in  Zion's  Watchman, 
(October  14, 1837,)  over  the  signature  of  "Coke," Mr. 


524 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1838. 


Scott  again  says :  "  The  bishop  may  talk  of  being  sent 
to  the  conference  to  do  certain  business, — hut  the 
Discipline  specifies  no  husiness  v:hich  he  is  to  do  in  the 
conferences  except  to  'preside^  in  them,  (not  rule  them ;) 
and  is  it  presiding  in  the  conference  to  sit  in  the  chair 
and  refuse  to  do  the  duties  of  president,  and  thus  pre- 
vent the  whole  conference  from  acting  ?  This,  I  must 
say,  is  a  new  way  to  '  preside '  in  a  dehberative  body." 
The  above  will  indicate  something  of  the  manner  in 
which  Bishop  Hedding's  official  acts  were  reviewed, 
and  also  of  the  little  reliance  that  could  be  placed  on 
compromises  and  adjustments.  We  have  no  disposi- 
tion to  question  Mr.  Scott's  sincerity  and  integrity  of 
purpose.  "We  believe  that  he  was  willing  to,  and  really 
did,  make  gi-eat  personal  sacrifices  for  the  cause  of 
humanity ;  but  he  evidently  had  become  so  com- 
pletely absorbed  in  the  one  object  at  which  he  aimed, 
and  at  the  same  time  had  become  so  excited  by  the 
opposition  he  encountered  in  his  mission,  that  he  often 
took  false  views  of  the  character  and  acts  of  those  op- 
posed to  him,  and  gave  wrong  and  injurious  versions 
of  them  to  the  public.  PalHate  his  motives,  how- 
ever, as  we  may,  no  legitimate  palliation  could  excuse 
the  style  and  manner  of  his  assaults  upon  Bishop 
Hedding. 

The  bishop  felt  himself  to  be  not  only  placed  in  a 
false  light  before  the  public  by  them,  but  also  to  be 
deeply  injm'ed  in  his  reputation  and  influence.  Un- 
der these  circumstances,  he  felt  that  it  was  due  to 
himself,  to  the  Church,  and  to  the  cause  of  justice  and 


1838.1  CHARGES  PREFERRED  AGAINST  O.  SCOTT.  525 


truth,  jo  prftfpir  o.kajgf^-aga.ins<-.  thTr^Rprrr"f^"flTigft 
atJiie^Bsuiirg^  sessioTr  of  tHe  ISTe w-England  Annual 
Conference  for  1838._  The  principal  charges  prefer- 
red against  him  were,  in  substance: — 1.  A  want  of 
Christian  sincerity — in  promising  to  make  certain 
corrections  and  retractions,  and  then,  subsequently, 
publishing  an  edition  of  the  letter  in  which  they 
were  originally  contained,  with  "  some  of  the  same 
injurious  matter  before  retracted."  2.  Using  Bishop 
Hedding  and  other  bishops  in  an  imbrotherly  and  dis- 
respectful manner,  unbecoming  a  Methodist  preacher 
— instancing  several  communications  in  Zion's  Watch- 
man similar  in  character  to  those  from  which  we 
have  taken  several  extracts.  The  decision  of  the  con- 
ference is  somewhat  singular.  The  first  charge  and 
specifications  were  negatived:  the  specifications  as 
to  the  fact  of  publication,  under  the  second  charge, 
were  sustained ;  butthe-eharge  itself  was  decided  in 
the- negative  by  a  small  majority.  At  this  stage  the 
president,  BL^hon  Roulf^,  stated  that  "although  the 
conference  had,  by  vote,  sustained  the  specifications 
of  the  second  charge,  which  was,  '  frequently  men- 
tioning our  names,  or  otherwise  referring  to  us  in  a 
coarse  and  disrespectful  manner,  and  that  since  our 
settlement  at  ISTantucket yet  as,  by  another  vote 
immediately  succeeding,  the  conference  declined  to 
sustain  the  charge  which  complained  of  the  course 
as  'unbrotherly^  and  'unbecoming  a  Methodist 
jpreacJier^  it  was  his  opinion  that  the  conference 
acquitted  brother  Scott  from  blame  on  the  charge 


526  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1838. 

and  specifications."  As  no  one  dissented  from  this 
opinion  of  the  chair,  and  as  the  character  of  Mr. 
Scott  passed,  we  are  left  to  conckide  that  the  con- 
ference then  adjudged  the  treatment  they  admitted 
by  their  vote  Bishop  Hedding  had  received  from  Mr. 
Scott  in  the  publications,  of  which  we  have  given  a 
few  specimens,  was  neither  "  unbrotherly  "  nor  "  un- 
becoming a  Methodist  preacher."  This  decision  we 
cannot  but  think  has  been  long  since  revoked  in  the 
sober  judgment  of  the  conference,  as  it  unquestion- 
ably has  in  the  public  mind. 

At  the  same  conference,  Bishop  Hedding  also 
preferred  charges  against  the  Revr  iaT^By'lSnndei^^ 
land,  then  editor  of  Zion's  Watchman,  pubhshed  in 
New- York  city,  but  a  member  of  the  New-England 
conference.  He  charged  Mr.  Sunderland, — (1,)  with 
treating  him  in  a  scurrilous  manner ;  (2,)  with  publish- 
ing against  him  an  injurious  falsehood;  (3,)  with 
publishing  a  false  conjecture  respecting  the  bishops; 
(4,)  with  reporting  a  falsehood ;  and  (5,)  with  misre- 
presentation. It  would  be  a  waste  of  time  to  go  into 
the  details  of  the  specifications  and  evidence  taken 
in  this  case.  Some  curious  developments  were  made 
during  the  progress  of  the  trial ;  but  the  result  was 
the  same  as  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Scott — acquittal  by 
the  conferen-e§.  Bishop  Hedding  felt  aggrieved  by 
these  decisions ;  he  could  not  but  feel  that  they  were 
made  under  the  influence  of  a  morbid  excitement 
that  had  biassed  the  judgment  of  the  members,  and 
also  that  they  were  contrary  to  reason  and  truth. 


1838.]  CHAKACTERISTIC    INCIDENT.  527 

His  only  redress  now  was  in  the  General  Conference, 
and  he  looked  forward  to  its  session  in  full  con- 
fidence that  his  course  of  administration  would 
receive  its  full  vindication. 

An  incident  occurred  at  the  close  of  this  con- 
ference somewhat  illustrative  of  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  and  which  it  is  more  necessary  for  us  to 
notice,  because  it  has  been  erroneously  stated  else- 
where. On  the  SEVENTEENTH  DAT  of  the  session, 
about  noon,  Bishop  Hedding  told  the  conference 
that  he  had  done  all  the  business  his  duty  required 
him  to  attend  to,  except  the  reading  of  the  jom-nal 
and  closing;  that  he  must  leave  that  afternoon,  or 
he  would  not  be  able  to  reach  the  Maine  Conference 
in  time  for  its  session;  but  if  they  had  other  busi- 
ness they  wished  to  attend  to,  they  could  adjourn 
and  meet  in  the  afternoon,  and  Bishop  Soule  had 
kindly  agreed  to  remain  and  preside.  K,  however, 
they  chose  to  close  then,  they  could  have  the  journal 
read,  and  he  would  give  out  the  appointments  and 
close.  The  conference  voted  to  have  the  journal 
read  and  to  hear  the  appointments  immediately. 
After  this  vote  was  taken,  Mr^Scott  rose  and  offered 

a  mux!.^hfiI~jP.Li^S^l**^^^^"^^  tl^^  slavery. 
The  bishop  decided  they  were  out  of  order,  as  the 
conference  had  voted" to  have  the  jom-nal  read,  hear 
the  appointments,  and  to  close  immediately.  Xo 
effort  was  made,  so  far  as  we  know,  to  reconsider 
that  vote.  The  journal  was  accordingly  read,  the 
appointments  announced,  and  the  conference  ad- 


528 


LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1838. 


joumed.  Subsequently,  this  act  also  was  ranked 
among  the  usui-pations  of  Bishop  Hedding. 
^  Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  l^ew-England 
Oonference,  Mr.  Scott  had  a  one-sided  account  of 
his  trial,  and  of  Bishop  Hedding's  administration 
during  its  session,  published  in  a  "Zion's  Herald 
.extra:"  with  these  he  was  present  at  the  Maine 
Conference,  scattering  them  broad-cast  among  the 
preachei's  and  people.  The  object  could  be  no  other 
than  to  disparage  the  bishop,  and  to  lessen  his  influ- 
ence among  the  preachers.  The  bishop,  however, 
took  no  notice  of  the  matter,  and  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  the  effort  was  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
abortive. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  state  of  feeling  that 
existed  at  this  time  in  the  ISTew-Hampshire  Con- 
ference, and  the  singular  course  of  action  resorted 
to,  we  give  the  following  note  concerning  its  pro- 
ceedings. It  is  taken  from  a  letter  addressed  to 
Bishop  Hedding  by  Bishop  Morris,  who  had  pre- 
sided there  this  year.  The  letter  is  dated  at  Bur- 
lington, Yt.,  July  14,  1838.  After  giving  Bishop 
Hedding  a  pressing  invitation  to  accompany  him  in 
his  visit  to  the  conferences  in  northern  and  western 
j^ew-York,  he  adds: — "The  New-Hampshire  Con- 
ference adjourned  last  Thursday  forenoon.  We  had 
a  pleasant  session,  aU  things  considered.  In  refer- 
ence to  the  exciting  subject  of  controversy,  we  got 
along  full  as  weU  as  I  expected.  Four  agents  of  the 
Anti-Slavery  Society  were  present  to  aid  in  their 


1838.]  LETTER   FROM   BISHOP   MORRIS.  529 

out-door  arrangements — Robinson,  Buckley,  G.  Storrs, 
and  O.  Scott  part  of  the  time.  The  whole  time  I 
spent  in  the  conference  on  the  subject,  fii-st  and  last, 
was  perhaps  about  three  hours,  and  during  that  time 
very  little  warmth  of  feeling  was  manifested.  Tlie 
first  thing  done  on  the  subject  was  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  a  memorial  to  the  General  Con- 
ference,^^to_which  I  made  no  objection.  When  the 
examiSation  of  character  came  on,  we  had  a  little 
manoeuYering.  An  abolitionist  moved  to  appoint  a 
committee  of  five,  to  whom  should  be  referred  the 
case  of  every  brother  who  had  been  to  the  conven- 
tion, or  lectured  against  slavery,  <fec.  This  was  a 
fa/rce  played  off  for  effect;  and  after  entertaining  us 
with  abolition  speeches  about  two  hours,  they  post- 
poned the  resolution  indefinitely.  TVe  resumed  the 
examination,  but  objection  was  made  to  the  passage 
of  every  brother's  character  who  had  participated  in 
abolition  measures.  One  abolitionist  would  object; 
another  would  move  to  pass  the  character  under 
consideration,  and,  after  a  few  speeches,  would  vote 
each  other  through.  This  became  tiresome,  and  a 
resolution  was  brought  in  declaring  that  attendance 
on  al^gJMwn  conventions^  delivering  abolition  lec- 
tures^ or  ci/rculat/ing  abolition  pajpers^  did  not  mili- 
tate against  the  character  of  any  member  of  the 
conference.  Th!S-.Ii,gTOnouncM~Tnrt"of^'d^  on  the 
ground  that  it  approvecT  what  Cjen'eral  Conference 
had  condemned.  An  appeal  was  taken  from  my 
decision,  and  I  agreed  to  put  the  question  on  the 


530 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1839. 


appeal,  provided  the  journal  should  embrace  my 
decision  against  the  resolution,  and  such  list  of  excep- 
tions as  I  might  choose  to  write.  The  appeal  was 
sustained,  my  decision  overruled,  and  the  resolu- 
tion adopted:  whereupon  I  entered  my  exception. 
Another  motion  was  made  to  publish  the  resolution 
in  several  papers.  I  agreed  to  put  the  motion  on 
condition  the  mover  would  so  amend  it  as  to  embrace 
my  decision  and  my  exception,  which  was  agreed 
to,  and  the  whole  ordered  to  be  published.  Here 
our  trouble  ended.  The  committee  first  appointed 
brought  in  nothing  but  the  resolutions  which  the 
New-England  Conference  passed  touching  the  gen- 
eral rule  on  slavery,  which  the  conference  adopted 
without  discussion.  The  brethren  were  all  court- 
eous and  friendly,  and  we  parted  in  peace.  ^With 
their  abolitionism  I  nrrwif^f.  plAfipprl  •  h-\^\.  fhprft  are 
many~^xcellencies  "among  them,  and,  upon  the 
whole,  I  like^ha— pragiChers  of  JSTew-Hampshire 
COTifere»S&-^ich^Jbetter  than^  They  had 

a  net  increase  of  over  eighteen  hundred  members 
the  past  year. 

As  the  spirit  with  which  Bishop  Hedding  moved 
and  prosecuted  the  trials  of  Orange  Scott  and  La  Eoy 
Sunderland  before  the  New-England  Conference,  and 
also  the  motives  that  actuated  him,  have  been  im- 
pugned, we  are  happy  to  have  it  in  our  power  to  place 
before  the  reader  an  extract  from  a  letter  bearing  upon 
this  very  point.  The  humility  and  godly  sincerity  that 
are  so  manifest  here,  were  striking  characteristics  of 


1840.]  LETTER   TO    ASA    KENT.  631 

Bishop  Hedding,  and  will  prove,  we  doubt  not,  in  the 
reader's  mind,  a  full  vindication  from  the  imputations 
cast  upon  him.  The  letter  bears  the  date  of  March  24, 
1840,  and  is  addressed  to  Eev.  Asa  Kent,  a  member 
of  the  Kew-England  Conference.  The  letter  will  suf- 
ficiently indicate  the  occasion  that  called  for  it. 

"  My  Dear  Brother,^ — I  received  yours  of  the  26th 
ultimo.  I  thank  you  for  it  most  sincerely,  and  es- 
pecially for  the  frank  and  Icind  manner  in  which  you 
tell  me  what  you  and  others  believe  to  have  been  my 
fault  at  the  Boston  Conference ;  for  I  consider  him 
my  friend  who  tells  me  of  my  faults — ^real  or  supposed 
— in  a  Christian  manner,  as  you  have  done.  You  say, 
'  But  at  Boston  I  saw  you  oppressed,  and  the  firmness 
of  patience  began  to  yield,  when  your  manner  in 
prosecuting  those  charges  against  those  brethren  was 
different  from  anything  I  had  ever  seen  in  you.'  Be- 
fore reading  this  I  had  no  idea  of  the  thing,  either 
from  my  own  reflections  or  from  the  suggestions  of 
others.  I  have  endeavoured  to  examine  myself,  and 
to  pray  over  the  subject,  but  I  cannot  perceive  that 
I  felt  impatient.  But  I  may  be  mistaken  ;  I  may  not 
have  known  myself.  After  the  trial  of  La  Boy  Sun- 
derland, I  had  doubts  whether  I  had  not  used  some 
words  which  were  too  sharp,  and  I  named  it  to  Bishop 
Soule,  saying,  '  If  I  have,  tell  me,  and  I  will  take 
them  back  before  the  conference.'  But  he  said  he 
believed  my  words  were  none  too  sharp.  It  is  very 
probable  that,  as  you  say,  my  manner  was  different 
from  anything  you  had  ever  seen  in  me ;  but,  as  far 

23 


532  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840, 

as  I  can  now  see,  it  arose  from  other  causes,  and  not 
from  a  failm*e  of  patience.  However,  I  will  inquire 
of  brethren  who  were  present  when  I  see  them,  and 
if  they  think  as  you  do,  I  will  give  up  my  judgment 
to  yours  and  theirs,  and  will  make  any  satisfaction 
to  the  Is'ew-England  Conference,  if  I  live  to  see  them, 
the  nature  of  the  case  requires;  for  it  would  grieve  me 
more  to  have  indulged  in  impatience,  than  to  suffer 
injuries  from  the  tongues,  or  pens,  or  hands  of  men. 
And  I  have  a  desire  to  see  my  faults,  to  repent  of 
them,  and  to  confess  and  forsake  them ;  and  whether 
you  or  I  have  erred  in  opinion  respecting  the  matter 
of  patience,  I  hope  to  profit  by  the  information  you 
have  given  me  in  so  friendly  a  manner,  and  to  be 
more  watchful  in  future. 

"  The  cau3es_af  my jaanner^at  the  times  you  name, 
I  think  were  the  following T—-1.  Excessive  fatigue ; 
2.  The  heat  of  the  weather;  3.  I  was  oppressed  with 
the  business  of  the  conference.  That  business  has 
affected  my  nerves  for  the  few  past  years,  so  that 
sometimes  I  have  been  unable  to  speak  or  stand 
without  trembling ;  and,  in  one  instance,  in  a  confer- 
ence, I  was  supposed  by  one  man  to  be  angry,  when 
I  hnow  my  spirit  was  as  cool  as  it  is  now.  4.  I  think 
the  greatest  cause  was,  my  spirit  was  deeply  oppressed 
with  a  s^ense-^fJiiewrongs  these  '^^rethren  had  done 
me,  and  the  Church  through  ^my^nd  1  leTfah  ar- 
dent desire  to  convince  the  conference  that  they 
had  done  wrong, — believing  the  good  of  the  Church 
required  it,  and  fearing  that  many  of  the  preachera 


1840.] 


LETTER   TO   ASA  KENT. 


533 


had  not  a  proper  sense  of  the  sin  of  evil-speaking, 
backbiting,  and  slandering.  With  all  these  impres- 
sions, and  nnder  these  circumstances,  my  feelings 
were  greatly  excited — ^probably  too  much  so ;  but  I 
cannot  yet  see  that  it  was  impatience.  I  meant  to 
'rebuke  them  sharply'  before  I  commenced,  for  I 
believed  the  cause  required  it;  but  probably  I  al- 
lowed myself  to  feel  too  much.  "Wherein  I  erred  I 
pray  the  Lord  to  pardon  me,  and  cover  me  with  that 
atonement  which  alone  affords  me  hope." 

The  state  of  things  indicated  in  the  preceding  pages 
continued  to  exist  till  the  General  Conference  of 
1840,  and,  to  some  extent,  a  year  or  two  later.  Gen- 
erally a  cloud  of  lecturers  hung  around  the  path  of 
Bishop  Hedding,  perverting  and  misrepresenting  his 
acts  and  character.  His  administration  entered 
largely  into  their  public  discourses.  It  was  de- 
nounced as  "usurpation,"  "tyranny,"  "one  man 
attempting  to  rule  the  conference,"  and  the  like. 
He  became  also  the  butt  of  their  ridicule ;  and  in 
some  of  their  lectures  a  mock  slave-auction  was 
enacted,  and  Bishop  Hedding  and  his  wife  in 
burlesque  sold  as  slaves.  These  extravagances  re- 
acted against  the  men  who  enacted  them,  and  led 
the  way  to  their  final  withdrawal  from  the  Church. 
Even  before  the  General  Conference  of  1840  the 
violence  of  the  gale  had  in  a  great  measure  passed ; 
and  wise  and  good  men — not  abating  in  the  least 
their  determined  opposition  to  slavery,  whether  in  or 
out  of  the  Church — began  to  feel  that  the  Church  was 


534  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

worth  preserving,  and  tliat  it  was  not  necessary  to 
rend  it  in  pieces  in  order  to  resist  the  monster  evil 
of  the  times. 

It  is  hut  jnst  to  say  that  we  have  felt  no  disposition 
to  impugn  the  motives  of  the  men  who  took  the  lead 
in  this  movement.  We  cannot  doubt  the  honesty  of 
their  convictions  and  the  sincerity  of  their  motives. 
Could  they  at  the  outset — before  their  minds  had  be- 
come prejudiced  by  opposition  to  their  measures,  and 
their  affections  alienated  from  the  Church — have  seen 
the  inevitable  results  to  which  their  course  tended, 
they  would  undoubtedly  have  paused,  and  at  least 
assumed  positions  and  adopted  measures  less  offensive 
and  less  perilous.  Or  while  their  hearts  were  yet 
imbued  with  the  tender  sentiments\f  brotherly  love, 
could  they  have  foreseen  the  alienation  of  Christian 
feeling,  the  turmoil  and  strife  that  would  be  engen- 
dered in  the  Church,  they  would  have  hesitated.  And, 
indeed,  it  must  not  be  concealed  that  they  were  often 
goaded  by  the  rude  personalities  with  which  they  were 
assailed,  and  also  by  the  opprobrious  epithets  that 
were  heaped  upon  them.  We  confess  that  at  this 
distance  of  time,  on  looking  through  the  files  of  the 
current  newspapers  of  that  day — those  which  took  the 
lead  in  opposition  to  these  radical  movements — we 
are  painfully  impressed  with  this  fact.  Many  things 
were  wi'itten  and  said  that  it  would  have  been  well 
for  the  fair  fame  of  Christian  love  if  they  had  never 
.existed. 

So  also,  on  the  other  hand.  Bishop  Hedding  may 


1840.]       REVIEW    OF   THE   WHOLE    MATTER.  535 


have  uttered  or  written  some  tilings  too  palliative  in 
relation  to  slavery,  and  may  liave  seemed  more 
anxious  to  vindicate  tlie  south — especially  Methodists 
who  were  involved  in  "the  great  evil," — than  at  the 
present  day  secerns  fit  or  appropriate.  But  it  must  be 
recollected  that  the  evils  inseparable  from  the  system 
have  since  been  more  fully  developed,  and  in  that 
day  the  existence  of  slavery  was  generally  deplored 
by  good  men  in  the  south  as  an  evil ;  and  also  that 
its  enshrinement  as  a  "divine  institution"  is  of 
more  recent  origin.  Taking  all  these  facts  into  the 
account,  we  then  have  a  ready  intei'pretation  and 
vindication  of  his  action  in  the  fact  that  the 
Church  was  placed  in  great  peril,  and  he  was 
bound  by  the  most  sacred  obligations  to  guard  its 
integrity.  Eather  than  compromise  the  well-being 
of  the  Church,  he  suffered  himself  for  a  time  to  be 
placed  in  a  false  position  before  the  world,  and  to 
suffer  obloquy  such  as  has  rarely  fallen  to  the  lot  of 
a  good  man  in  this  age  to  suffer.  These  things  he 
endured — not  doubting  of  the  present  approval  of 
Heaven,  and  of  the  ultimate  approval  of  the  Chris- 
tian world.  By  his  firmness  in  this  horn*  of  trial  he 
performed  a  great  service  for  the  Church  and  for  the 
cause  of  God. 

These  explanatory  remarks  were  necessary,  in 
order  to  exhibit  the  true  position  of  both  parties. 
There  is  forgiveness  with  God  for  the  errors  of  good 
men ;  and  whatever  of  jar  to  the  concord  of  Christian 
men  there  might  have  been  on  earth,  it  has,  with 


536  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

most  of  the  prominent  actors  in  these  scenes,  been 
hushed  and  harmonized  long  since  in  that  better  land, 
where  no  cloud  of  prejudice  dims  the  vision,  and  no 
bleak  winter  chills  the  genial  currents  of  the  soul. 

What  we  have  further  to  say  upon  this  subject 
will  be  found  in  connexion  with  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  184:0,  and  the  fifth  quadrennial  of  Bishop 
Hedding's  episcopal  labour. 


1840.] 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 


537 


CHAPTEK  XYH. 

THE  GENERAL  CONFEEEXCE  OF  18i0,  AXD  THE  FIPTH  QTJADREN- 

NIAI  OF  EPISCOPAL  LAEOUR. 

Grei^eral  Conference  of  18iO — Representation  —  Bishop's  Address  —  Views 
of  Constitutional  Powers  —  Government  of  the  Church  —  Appeal  of 
Rev.  D.  Dorchester  —  Action  in  relation  to  the  Prerogatives  of  Bishops 
and  Presiding  Elders  as  Presiding  OflBcers — Bishop  Bedding's  Com- 
munication in  relation  to  the  Trials  of  0.  Scott  and  La  Roy  Sunderland  — 
Private  Adjustment  by  the  Delegates  —  Magnanimity  of  Bishop  Hedding 
— Another  instance  —  Speech  upon  Striking  out  the  Censure  of  the 
New-England  Conference  —  His  counsel  prevails  —  The  Question  on  the 
Testimony  of  Coloured  Persons  —  Dr.  Few's  Resolution  —  Tie  Vote 
upon  its  consideration  —  Bishop  Hedding  declines  to  give  the  Casting 
Vote — Shows  that  a  Bishop  has  no  Constitutional  Right  to  Vote — 
Pastoral  Address  —  Close  of  the  Conference  —  Annual  Conferences  — 
Michigan  —  Ohio  —  Dedicates  Bedford-street  Church  in  Xew-York  city 
—  Close  of  the  Year  —  Dedication  of  John-street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  —  Conferences  of  1841  —  Address  on  the  Administration  of  Dis- 
cipline—  Address  before  the  New- Jersey  Conference  on  Christian  Perfec- 
tion—  Results  for  the  Year  —  Conferences  of  1842  —  The  Resolution  pro- 
posed about  Transfers  in  the  New-Hampshire  Conference  —  Address 
upon  "Man's  Natural  Ability,"  &c.  —  Residence  at  Saratoga  —  Great  fall 
of  Snow  —  A  hard  Sleigh-ride  —  Conferences  of  1843  —  Death  of  Bishop 
Roberts  —  Condition  of  the  Work  in  the  Eastern  Conferences  —  Letter 
to  his  Wife  —  Missionary  Cause  —  Removes  to  Poughkeepsie  —  Unprece- 
dented Increase  of  Members  in  the  Church — Spring  of  1844. 

The  General  Conference  for  1840  commenced  its 
sessions  in  the  city  of  Baltimore  on  the  1st  of  May. 
There  were  present  one  hnndred  and  forty- three 
delegates,  distributed  among  the  annual  conferences 
as  follows: — ^IS'ew-York,  ten;  New-England,  seven; 
Maine,  five;  I^ew-Hampshire,  six;  Troy,  six;  Pitts- 
burgh, five  ;  Erie,  five  ;  Black  River,  four ;  Oneida, 
six;  Michigan,  five;  Genesee,  six;  Ohio,  eight;  Mis- 


538  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

sonri,  three  ;  Ulinois,  six ;  Kentucky,  five  ;  Indiana, 
five ;  Holston,  three ;  Tennessee,  five ;  Arkansas,  two ; 
Mississippi,  three ;  Alabama,  three ;  Georgia,  six ; 
South  Carolina,  five ;  Xorth  Carolina,  three ;  Yir- 
ginia,  three  ;  Baltimore,  eight ;  Philadelphia,  five  ; 
and  IS'ew-Jersej,  five.  After  the  organization  had 
been  efi'ected,  the  body  entered  upon  the  usual 
routine  of  conference  business. 

Owing  to  the  detention  of  Bishop  Soule  by  indis- 
position, the  address  of  the  bishops  was  delayed 
several  days.  It  is  a  document  of  great  length,  very 
difi'use  and  circumlocutory,  especially  some  portions 
of  it ;  but  it  touches  upon  all  the  varied  general  in- 
terests of  the  Church,  and  especially  the  agitations 
that  had  existed,  and  the  new  questions  that  had 
been  mooted,  relating  to  the  prerogatives  of  bishops, 
presiding  elders,  &c.  Appropriate  reference  of  those 
mattei*s  that  required  conference  action  was  made. 

As  we  have  already  adverted,  somewhat  largely, 
to  the  various  e23isco]3al  decisions  called  forth  by 
the  peculiar  phases  of  the  anti-slavery  discussion, 
and  of  the  proposed  measures  in  some  of  the  annual 
conferences,  it  is  due  that  the  bishops  themselves 
should  be  heard  upon  that  subject — the  restrictions 
imder  which  they  believe  themselves  to  be  acting, 
and  the  prerogatives  they  supposed  themselves 
invested  with  and  responsible  for  exercising.  They 
say: — "It  has  been  the  constant  aim  and  united 
endeavour  of  your  general  superintendents  to  pre- 
serve uniformity  and  harmony  in  the  administration 


1840.] 


THE   BISHOPS'  ADDRESS. 


539 


of  discipline,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  prevent 
conflicting  action  in  all  the  ofiBcial  bodies  in  the 
Church."  ...  "In  your  Pastoral  Address  to  the 
ministers  and  people  at  your  last  session,  with  great 
unanimity,  and,  as  we  believe,  in  the  true  spirit  of 
the  ministers  of  the  peaceful  Gospel  of  Christ,  you 
solemnly  advised  the  whole  body  to  abstain  from 
all  abohtion  movements,  and  from  agitating  the 
exciting  subject  in  the  Church.  This  advice  was  in 
perfect  agreement  with  the  individual  as  well  as 
associated  views  of  your  superintendents ;  but,  had 
we  differed  from  you  in  opinion,  in  consideration  of 
the  age,  wisdom,  experience,  and  official  authority 
of  the  General  Conference,  we  should  have  felt  our- 
selves under  a  solemn  obligation  to  be  governed  by 
your  counsel." 

They  also  bring  to  the  attention  of  the  body  the 
mooted  question  of  "the  constitutional  powers  of 
the  general  superintendents,  in  their  relations  to  the 
annual  conferences,  and  in  their  general  executive 
administration  of  the  government;  and  the  rights 
of  the  annual  and  quarterly,  conferences,  in  their 
official  capacities."  They  say  further : — "  In  the  pro- 
secution of  our  superintending  agency,  we  have  been 
compelled  to  differ  in  opinion  from  many  of  our 
brethren  composing  these  official  bodies;  and  this 
difference  of  opinion,  connected  with  a  conviction  of 
our  high  responsibility,  has,  in  a  few  cases,  resulted 
in  action  which  has  been  judged,  by  those  specially 
concerned,  to  be  high-haiided,  unconstitutional,  tyran- 

23* 


540  LIFE    AXD   TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1840. 

nical,  and  oppressive."  After  expressing  that,  from 
the  beginning,  they  had  assured  the  parties  con- 
cerned of  their  readiness  to  bring  the  matter  before, 
and  to  abide  bj  the  decision  of  the  "  constitutional 
tribunal,"  to  which  they  were  responsible,  they  pre- 
sent the  subject  in  the  following  manner : — 

"  When  any  business  comes  up  for  action  in  our 
annual  or  quarterly  conferences  involving  a  diffi- 
culty on  a  question  of  law,  so  as  to  produce  the 
inquiry,  '  What  is  the  law  in  the  case  V  does  the 
constitutional  power  to  decide  the  question  belong 
to  the  president  or  to  the  conference?  Have  the 
annual  conferences  a  constitutional  right  to  do  any 
other  business  than  what  is  specifically  prescribed, 
or,  by  fair  construction,  provided  for  in  the  form 
of  Discipline  ?  Has  the  president  of  an  annual  con- 
ference, by  virtue  of  his  office,  a  right  to  dechne 
putting  a  motion  or  resolution  to  vote,  on  business 
other  than  that  thus  prescribed  or  provided  for  ? 

These  questions  are  proposed  with  exclusive  refer- 
ence to  the  principle  of  cmistitutional  right.  The 
principles  of  courtesy  and  expediency  are  very  difi'er- 
ent  things." 

We  have  already  presented  a  somewhat  extended 
view  of  the  principle  involved  in  this  question.  But 
as  the  following  paragraphs  still  more  distinctly  ex- 
hibit that  principle  in  contrast  with  its  opposite,  and 
also  still  further  elucidate  the  arguments  bearing 
upon  it,  we  give  them  to  the  reader : — 

"  As  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain,"  con- 


1840.] 


THE   BISHOPS'  ADDRESS. 


541 


tinue  the  bishops  in  their  address,  "the  views  of 
those  who  entertain  opinions  opposite  to  our  own  on 
these  points,  they  may  be  snmmed  np  as  follows : — • 
They  maintain  that  all  questions  of  law  arising  out  of 
the  business  of  our  annual  or  quarterly  conferences 
are  to  be,  of  right,  settled  by  the  decision  of  those 
bodies,  either  primarily  by  resolution,  or  finally  by 
an  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  president ;  that  it 
is  the  prerogative  of  an  annual  conference  to  decide 
what  business  they  will  do,  and  when  they  will  do  it ; 
that  they  may  have  a  constitutional  right  to  discuss, 
in  their  official  capacity,  all  moral  subjects;  to  inves- 
tigate the  official  acts  of  other  annual  conferences, 
of  the  General  Conference,  and  of  the  general  super- 
intendents, so  far  as  to  pass  resolutions  of  disapproba- 
tion or  approval  on  those  acts.  They  maintain  that 
the  president  of  an  annual  conference  is  to  be  regarded 
in  the  same  relation  to  the  conference  that  a  chair- 
man or  speaker  sustains  to  a  civil  legislative  assem- 
bly ;  that  it  is  his  duty  to  preserve  order  in  the  con- 
ference, to  determine  questions  of  order,  subject  to 
appeal,  and  put  to  vote  all  motions  and  resolutions 
when  called  for  according  to  the  resolutions  of  the 
body;  that  these  are  the  settled  landmarks  of  his 
official  prerogatives,  as  president  of  the  conference, 
beyond  which  he  has  no  right  to  go ;  that  although 
it  belongs  to  his  office,  as  general  superintendent,  to 
appoint  the  time  for  holding  the  several  annual  con- 
ferences, he  has  no  discretionary  authority  to  adjourn 
them,  whatever  length  of  time  they  may  have  oon- 


542  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

tinned  their  session,  or  whatever  business  they  may 
think  proper  to  transact.  From  these  doctrines  we 
have  felt  it  our  solemn  duty  to  dissent ;  and  we  will 
not  withhold  from  you  our  deliberate  and  abiding 
conviction,  that  if  they  should  be  sustained  by  the 
General  Conference,  the  uniform  and  efficient  admin- 
istration of  the  government  would  be  rendered  im- 
23racticable. 

"The  government  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  is  peculiarly  constructed.  It  is  widely  dif- 
ferent from  our  civil  organization.  The  General 
Conference  is  the  only  legislative  body  recognized  in 
our  ecclesiastical  system,  and  from  it  originates  the 
authority  of  the  entire  executive  administration. 
Tlie  exclusive  power  to  create  annual  conferences, 
and  to  increase  or  diminish  their  number,  rests  with 
this  body.  [N'o  annual  conference  has  authority  or 
right  to  make  any  rule  of  discipline  for  the  Church, 
either  within  its  own  bounds  or  elsewhere.  N^o  one 
has  the  power  to  elect  its  own  president,  except  in  a 
special  case,  pointed  out  and  provided  for  by  the 
General  Conference.  Whatever  may  be  the  number 
of  the  annual  conferences,  they  are  all  organized  on 
the  same  plan^^^are  all  governed  by  the  same  laws,  and 
all  have  identically  the  same  rights^  powers^  dind  priv- 
ileges. These  powers,  rights,  and  privileges  are  not 
derived  from  themselves,  but  from  the  body  which 
originated  them.  And  the  book  of  Discipline,  con- 
taining the  rules  of  the  General  Conference,  is  the 
only  charter  of  their  rights  and  directory  of  their 


1840.]  THE   BISHOPS'    ADDRESS.  64:3 

duties  as  official  bodies.  The  general  superintendents 
are  elected  by  the  General  Conference,  and  responsi- 
ble to  it  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  thejr  office. 
They  are  constituted,  by  virtue  of  their  office,  pres- 
idents of  the  annual  conferences,  with  authority  to 
appoint  the  time  of  holding  them ;  with  a  pru- 
dential provision  that  they  shall  allow  each  confer- 
ence to  sit  at  least  one  week,  that  the  important  busi- 
ness prescribed  in  the  form  of  Discipline  may  not  be 
hurried  through  in  such  a  manner  as  to  affect  in- 
juriously the  interests  of  the  Church.  The  primary 
objects  of  their  official  department  in  the  Church  were, 
as  we  believe,  to  preserve  in  the  most  effectual  man- 
ner an  itinerant  ministry;  to  maintain  a  uniformity 
in  the  administration  of  the  government  and  disci- 
pline in  every  department,  and  that  the  unity  of  the 
whole  body  might  be  preserved.  But  how,  we  would 
ask,  can  these  important  ends  be  accomplished,  if  each 
annual  conference  possessed  the  rights  and  powers 
set  forth  in  the  foregoing  summary  ?  Is  it  to  be  sup- 
posed that  twenty-eight  constitutional  judges  of  eccle- 
siastical law,  and  these,  too,  not  individuals  of  age  and 
experience,  who  have  had  time  and  means  to  thor- 
oughly investigate,  and  analyze,  and  collate  the  sys- 
tem, but  official  bodies,  many  members  of  which  are 
young  and  inexperienced,  and  without  the  opportu- 
nity of  necessary  helps  for  such  researches,  and  with- 
out consultation  with  each  other  on  the  points  to  be 
decided,  will  settle  different  questions  of  law  with 
such  agreement  as  to  have  no  material  conflict  be- 


^44  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

tween  their  legal  decisions  ?  Is  it  not  greatly  to  be 
feared  that,  with  such  a  system  of  ecclesiastical  juris- 
prudence, what  might  be  the  law  in  Georgia  might  be 
no  law  in  ITew-England  ?  that  what  might  be  ortho- 
doxy in  one  conference  might  be  heresy  in  another? 
Where,  then,  would  be  the  identity  of  the  law,  the 
uniformity  of  its  administration,  or  the  unity  and 
peace  of  the  Church."* 

The  question  was  also  brought  to  the  attention  of 
the  General  Conference  in  another  form,  but  involv- 
ing the  same  principle.  This  was  upon  the  appeal  of 
of  the  Rev.  D.  Dorchester  from  the  decision  of  the 
!New-England  Conference.  As  presiding  elder,  Mr. 
Dorchester  had  declined  to  put  a  resolution  to  vote 
in  the  Westfield  Quarterly  Conference.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  he  was  charged  with  maladministra- 
tion at  the  next  succeeding  session  of  the  JS'ew-Eng- 
land  Annual  Conference,  and  that  body  found  him 
guilty  of  "  exceeding  the  powers  of  his  office." 
From  this  decision  Mr.  Dorchester  appealed  to  the 
General  Conference. 

The  action  of  the  General  Conference  in  relation  to 
these  matters  was  very  distinct  and  decisive : — 1.  The 
administration  of  the  superintendents  was  approved ; 
and  it  was  decided  that  the  president  of  an  annual 
or  quarterly  conference  had  a  right  to  decline 
putting  a  resolution  to  vote  if  he  considered  it  foreign 
to  the  proper  business  of  a  conference,  or  incon- 


"  The  entire  Address  may  be  found  in  Bangs's  History,  vol.  iv, 
commencing  on  page  336  and  continuing  to  page  371. 


1840.]  ACTION   OF   THE   CONFERENCE.  545 

•  sistent  with  constitutional  provisions,  and  also  to 
adjourn  a  conference  without  a  formal  vote :  2.  The 
decision  of  the  ISTew-England  Conference  in  the  case 
of  Rev.  D.  Dorchester  was  reversed  by  a  very 
strong  vote,  showing  that,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
General  Conference,  he  did  not  transcend  the  powers 
of  his  office :  3.  And  further,  in  order  to  place  the 
matter  beyond  all  doubt  as  to  who  should  decide 
questions  of  law  in  annual  and  quarterly  conferences, 
the  following  enactments  were  made  : — 

1.  In  the  answer  to  the  question,  "What  is  the 
bishop's  duty?"  the  seventh  item  was  added,  as  fol- 
lows :■ — To  decide  all  questions  of  law  in  an 
annual  conference,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference ;  but  in  all  cases  the  application  of 
law  is  with  the  conference." 

2.  Also  in  the  answer  to  the  question,  "  What  are 
the  duties  of  the  presiding  elder?"  the  seventh  item 
was  amended  and  made  to  read: — "To  take  care 
that  every  part  of  our  Discipline  be  enforced  in  his 
district,  and  to  decide  all  questions  of  law  in  the 
quarterly-meeting  conference,  subject  to  an  appeal 
to  the  president  of  the  next  annual  conference ;  but 
in  all  cases  the  application  of  the  law  shall  be  with 
the  conference." 

It  has  been  charged  that  "  the  enactment  of  these 
laws  prove  that  the  previous  action  of  bishops  and 
presiding  elders  was  without  law,  if  not  contrary  to 
law."  In  the  face  of  all  the  facts  connected  with  the 
enactment  of  this  law,  such  an  assertion  is  not  only 


546 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1840. 


without  foundation,  but  is  absolutely  absurd.  The 
prerogatives  exercised  by  the  bishops  could  not  be 
"  without  law,"  nor  "  contrary  to  law,"  even  if  there 
were  no  distinct  and  specific  enactment  direct  to 
the  point,  because  they  formed  one  of  the  obvious 
and  indispensable  elements  of  om*  organic  existence. 
The  bishops  had  so  judged,  and,  from  the  beginning, 
their  administration  had  accorded  with  that  judg- 
ment, and  quadrennially  the  General  Conference 
approved  of  that  administration.  In  the  judgment 
of  the  present  General  Conference,  also,  the  exercise 
of  such  prerogatives  was  not  without  law,  for  they 
entered  their  distinct  endorsement  of  this  very  action, 
which  they  could  not  have  done  had  it  been  in  their 
judgment  unwan'anted  by  law.  But  then  the 
question  comes  up,  "Why  enact  a  new  law  if  the 
thing  was  already  legal  ?"  We  reply,  for  the  most 
plain  and  obvious  reasons.  Tlie  administration  of 
the  bishops  had  been  called  in  question;  they  had 
been  charged  with  transcending  their  powers,  and 
under  special  pleas  put  forth  upon  the  subject,  many 
had  been  led  to  believe  that  such  was  the  fact,  and 
in  consequence  had  come  to  regard  them  and  the 
office  they  held  with  distrust.  There  was,  then,  an 
important  reason — though  no  doubts  existed  in  the 
minds  of  the  bishops  or  of  the  General  Conference — 
why  the  subject  should  be  placed  beyond  all  ques- 
tion by  an  explicit  enactment. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  trial  of  Eev.  Orange 
Scott  and  of  Rev.  La  Eoy  Sunderland  at  the  session  of 


1840.]     BISHOP    HEDDING'S    COMMUNICATION.  547 

the  New-England  Conference  in  1838,  and  the  man- 
ner of  their  acquittal.  Bishop  Hedding  brought 
these  two  cases  to  the  attention  of  the  General  Con- 
ference by  the  following  communication : — 

"Dear  Brethren, — In  a  session  of  one  of  the 
annual  conferences,  in  the  year  1838,  two  preachers 
were  accused,  tried,  and  acquitted ;  but,  in  my  judg- 
ment, they  were  acquitted  contrary  to  law  and 
evidence.  Of  this  I  informed  the  said  conference 
at  the  time,  stating  that  I  believed  that  they  had 
erred  in  judgment,  but  not  intentionally.  I  believe 
so  still :  nevertheless,  that  error  has  done  much 
injury,  and  in  my  opinion  will  do  much  more,  un- 
less it  be  corrected. 

"  Those  brethren  were  accused  of  supposed  wrongs 
done  to  me,  and,  by  acquitting  them,  the  conference 
has  impliedly  censured  me,  and  by  that  act,  as  I 
believe,  encouraged  the  same  brethren,  and  others, 
to  inflict  on  me  still  further  injuries,  which  they 
have  done  to  a  great  extent. 

"  I  informied  that  conference  that  I  should  lay 
this  matter  before  the  General  Conference,  not  by 
way  of  appeal,  as  I  supposed  I  had  no  right  to  an 
appeal  in  this  case,  but  by  way  of  inviting  the 
General  Conference  to  examine  the  acts  of  the 
annual  conference  in  the  premises. 

"As  the  appropriate  committee  may  differ  from 
me  in  judgment  in  this  matter,  I  forbear  mention- 
ing the  name  of  the  conference  at  this  time  unless 


548  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

this  body  shall  request  me  to  do  so;  but  by  your 
direction  I  shall  state  the  case  to  the  committee, 
and  refer  them  to  the  journals  of  the  said  conference. 
"  Yours,  etc.,  "  Elijah  Hedding." 

"  BALTmoRE,  May  6,  1840." 

This  communication  was  referred  to  a  special 
committee^ of  five,  consisting  of  IST.  Bangs,  "W.  H. 
Raper,  George  Peck,  John  Dempster,  and  John  Early. 
"When  matters  had  proceeded  thus  far,  one  of  the 
oldest  delegates  of  the  JSTew-England  Conference 
waited  upon  the  bishop,  and  expressed  his  regret 
that  the  communication  had  been  made,  for  he  had 
hoped  a  private  adjustment  of  that  difficulty  might 
have  been  made  between  the  delegates  and  him 
without  bringing  the  matter  before  the  General 
Conference.  The  bishop  replied  that  he  had  waited 
several  days  to  give  the  delegates  time  to  make 
such  a  proposition,  as  it  belonged  to  them  to  do  so 
if  the  thing  were  done  at  all.  He  further  added 
that  he  had  no  disposition  to  arraign  the  action  of 
the  I^Tew-England  Conference  before  the  General 
Conference,  and  added  that  even  now  he  was  will- 
ing, if  they  desired  it,  to  have  a  private  settlement 
of  the  matter  if  it  could  be  done  on  proper  principles. 

Wlien  the  committee  met,  the  delegates  from  the 
N^ew-England  Conference  appeared,  and  presented 
the  following  paper  as  a  basis  of  settlement.  It 
was  accepted  on  the  part  of  the  bishop,  who  had 
no  disposition  to  prosecute  the  matter  any  further 


1840.] 


FINAL  ADJUSTMENT. 


549 


than  the  ends  of  justice  and  truth  required.  The 
following  is  the  paper  referred  to : — ■ 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  acknowledge  that  there  is 
an  inconsistency  in  some  of  the  votes  passed  in  the 
cases  of  brothers  Scott  and  Sunderland  in  the  'New- 
England  Conference  of  1838,  and  we  believe  that 
the  conference  may  have  erred  iix  some  of  these 
votes,  and  will  use  our  influence  to  prevent  the 
occurrence  of  the  thing  complained  of  in  future ; 
and,  moreover,  we  admit  that,  if  any  of  the  votes 
passed  in  these  cases  are  liable  to  be  construed 
injuriously  to  Bishop  Hedding,  it  was  not,  in  our 
judgment,  so  intended  by  the  conference,  and  was 
an  error;  and  we  respectfully  request  Bishop  Hed- 
ding to  withdraw  his  complaint. 


(Signed) 


Joseph  A.  Mekkill, 
jotham  horton, 
Phineas  Ceandall, 
Fkedeeick  Upham, 
E.  W.  Sticknet, 
A.  D.  Mekrill, 
O.  Scott. 


"  BALTnroRE,  May  17,  1840.^ 


On  the  presentation  of  this  paper  the  bishop 


appended  to  it  the  following  note : — 


550  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1840. 

The  committee  reported  the  facts  of  tlie  settle- 
ment to  the  General  Conference,  and  asked  to  be 
dismissed.  Their  request  was  granted,  and  here  the 
matter  rested.  "We,  however,  cannot  dismiss  the 
matter  without  noticing  the  magnanimity  displayed 
by  Bishop  Hedding  on  this  occasion.  The  course 
of  the  conference  action  complained  of  had  been 
exceedingly  unjust  and  injurious  to  himself  He 
knew  that  the  most  of  these  yery  delegates  had 
yoted  with  the  majoiity  of  the  conference  in  the 
acquittal  of  Messrs.  Scott  and  Sunderland,  and  also 
that  the  ultra  measures  of  the  day  had  fm-nished 
the  test-question  in  the  election  that  had  made 
some  of  them  delegates.  Some  of  these  yery  men, 
too,  had  been  arraigning  him  for  three  or  fom-  years 
before  the  public  as  a  usm-per  of  authority  that 
did  not  belong  to  his  office,  and  the  conference  to 
which  they  belonged  had  not  only  failed  to  call  them 
to  account  for  their  com'se,  but  had  thrown  around 
them  the  shield  of  its  protection.  These  facts  place 
the  character  of  Bishop  Hedding  in  a  most  enyiable 
light :  they  reflect  the  highest  honom-  upon  him  as 
a  Christian  man  and  a  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Chi-ist. 

On  another  occasion  during  the  session  of  this 
conference  the  Christian  magnanimity  of  Bishop 
Hedding  was  displayed  in  an  equally  striking  man- 
ner. In  the  preamble  of  the  report  presented  by  the 
Committee  on  Itinerancy,  the  Xew-England  Confer- 
ence, Key.  Orange  Scott,  and  Key.  La  Koy  Sunder- 


1810.] 


NOBLE  MAGNANIMITY. 


551 


land  were  alluded  to  in  terms  of  great  severity. 
When  this  preamble  came  up  for  consideration,  it 
was  moved  that  an  exception  be  also  taken  to  the 
Georgia  Conference  resolutions,  which  declared  "  that 
slavery,  as  it  exists  in  the  United  States,  is  not  a 
moral  evil."  Upon  this  resolution  warm  speeches 
were  made ;  but  it  was  finally  laid  upon  the  table. 
Rev.  J.  Horton  then  moved  that  all  that  part  of  the 
preamble  of  the  report  relating  to  the  ^Tew-England 
Conference  be  laid  on  the  table.  This  motion  was 
lost.  The  E.ev.  P.  Crandall  then  moved  that  so  much 
of  the  preamble  as  related  to  the  Xew-England  Con- 
ference be  stricken  from  the  report.  This  motion  was 
advocated  by  powerful  speeches,  made  by  the  mover 
and  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Stickney,  of  the  same  conference. 
Tlie  latter  especially  warned  the  conference  against 
the  fearful  consequences  that  would  result  to  the 
Church  in  iN'ew-England  should  such  an  arraign- 
ment of  the  x^ew-England  Conference  as  that  con- 
tained in  the  preamble  receive  the  sanction  of  that 
body,  and  especially  as  the  motion  to  take  exception 
to  the  action  of  the  Georgia  Conference  had  failed.* 

The  following  are  portions  of  the  report  referred  to : — 
*•  The  New-England  Conference,  as  has  appeared  to  the  committee, 
have  been,  during  the  last  four  years,  disorganizing  in  their  pro- 
ceedings— indeed,  have  pursued  a  course  destructive  to  the  peace, 
harmony,  and  unity  of  the  Church  ;  in  that, 

"  1.  They  have  gone  beyond  the  proper  jurisdiction  of  an  annual 
conference,  and  in  doing  so  have  pronounced  upon  the  characters  of 
those  brethren  who  were  not  at  all  responsible  to  them;  in  that, 

"  2.  The  journals  of  that  conference  exhibit  no  grounds  on  which 
they  acquitted  Orange  Scott,  who,  by  direct  implication,  had  been 


652 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1840. 


At  this  crisis  Bishop  Hedding  threw  himself  into 
the  breach.  He  arose  and  addressed  the  conference,* 
saying,  "  If  the  conference  would  indulge  him,  he  felt 
it  his  duty  to  offer  a  few  observations.  He  had  strong 
and  ardent  feehngs  of  friendship  for  the  ]^ew-England 
Conference ;  and  though  they  had  en-ed  in  some  of 
their  acts,  still,  as  a  body,  they  certainly  were  good 
men  and  fast  friends  of  the  Church.  If  he  might  be 
permitted  to  give  his  advice  upon  the  subject  now 
occupying  their  deliberations,  he  would  state  imme- 
diately what  it  was,  and  then  offer  some  reasons  which 
influenced  him. 

"  His  advice  then  was,  that  the  committee  amend 
the  report  by  striking  out  that  part  which  relates  to 
the  ]N^ew-England  Conference.  One  reason  justifica- 
tory of  this  recommendation  was,  that  the  brethren 

found  guilty,  by  a  large  majority  of  the  last  General  Conference,  of 
publishing  statements  concerning  members  of  that  body  which  -were 
gross  misrepresentations,  or  flagrant  and  scandalous  falsehoods ;  in 
that, 

"  3.  The  same  absence  exists  of  all  showing  of  reasons  for  acquit- 
ting Orange  Scott  and  La  Roy  Sunderland,  on  sundry  charges  of 
evil  doing,  growing  out  of  abolition  movements  in  which  they  were 
engaged ;  in  that, 

"4.  The  said  conference,  disregarding  the  established  usages  of 
Methodism,  permitted  the  members  of  their  body  to  be  present  during 
the  examination  of  their  own  characters ;  in  that, 

"  5.  The  conference  did,  by  an  official  act,  advise,  or  request,  that 
La  Roy  Sunderland  should  be  left  without  an  appointment ;  in  that, 

"  6.  The  conference  did  sustain  Orange  Scott  in  neglecting  his 
appropriate  work  as  a  Methodist  preacher,  while  he  was  prose- 
cuting an  agency  unknown  to,  and  not  recognised  by,  the  Disci- 
pline." 

*See  report  of  this  speech  in  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal 
for  1840,  pp.  170,  171. 


1840.]  SPEECH    OF   BISHOP   HEDDING.  553 

of  that  section  had  been  under  strong  excitement;  so 
powerful,  that,  to  his  belief,  they  had  not  understood 
the  real  nature  and  bearing  of  their  own  official  acts. 
Many  causes  have  been,  operative  in  the  production 
and  sustaining  of  that  excitement.  One  which  had 
operated  to  increase  and  prolong  it  was  the  act  of 
the  Georgia  Conference.  That  act,  it  is  true,  as  ex- 
plained by  the  delegates  from  that  conference,  has 
a  very  different  interpretation  from  that  which  the 
words  employed  in  the  resolution  would  signify,  and 
from  that  which  had  been  attached  to  them  by  the 
northern  people.  The  comments  and  explanations 
did  not  accompany  the  resolutions.  It  is  imderstood 
by  those  of  the  north  to  mean  what  the  phraseology, 
naked  and  unqualified, .  literally  imports.  Had  the 
resolution  said,  as  it  seems  to  have  been  intended  to 
do,  that  slavery,  as  it  exists  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
is  not  a  moral  evil,  the  great  body  of  the  northern 
membership  would  unhesitatingly  have  believed  it, 
and  probably  but  little  would  have  been  said  about  it 
one  way  or  the  other;  but  the  resolution  affirms  that 
slavery,  as  it  exists  in  the  United  States,  is  not  a  moral 
evil.  The  northerners  say  that  slavery,  as  it  exists  in 
the  United  States,  confers  upon  the  master  unlimited 
power  to  dispose  of  the  slave,  even  to  the  extent  of  an 
involuntary  separation  of  man  and  wife ;  that  this  is 
frequently  done ;  and  this  they  declare  to  be  a  moral 
evil.  They  contend  that  slavery,  in  practice,  frequently 
inflicts  great  injuries  on  the  subjects  of  it  thi'ough  the 
ownership  of  drunkards,  infidels,  and  other  immoral 


554  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

individuals;  and  they,  construing  the  resolution 
according  to  the  import  of  the  terms,  affirm  that  it 
declares  that  the  exercise  of  all  the  power  allowed  to 
the  master,  and  all  the  practices  incident  to  the  con- 
dition of  slavery,  as  existing  in  this  country,  are  not 
moral  evils.  'Now,  though  we  are  convinced  that  the 
Georgia  brethren  never  intended  to  convey  this  idea, 
yet  so  have  they  been  understood  by  many  of  their 
brethren  in  the  north. 

"  You  have  been  invited  to  give  an  opinion  on 
that  resolution  :  you  declined  doing  so,  and,  as  things 
now  are,  you  have  probably  acted  wisely;  for  no 
opinion  could  be  given  which  would  not  be  liable 
to  misconstruction  either  in  the  north  or  south,  and 
thus  be  productive  of  evil  somewhere.  As  you 
have  not  seen  fit  to  express  your  opinion  on  that 
resolution,  it  seems  to  be  reasonable  that  you  should 
not  pass  judgment  on  the  acts  of  the  ]^ew-En gland 
Conference. 

"Another  reason  is,  that  the  excitement  in  the 
north  is  diminishing,  and,  if  we  do  nothing  to  revive 
it,  it  is  hoped  that  it  may  d'e  away.  But  a  declara- 
tion of  opinion  on  the  acts  of  one  conference,  and 
not  on  the  other,  will  certainly  increase  and  swell 
the  agitation.  It  is  plain  that  the  brethren  of  the 
north  and  of  the  south  do  not  understand  each  other 
on  this  subject;  but  when  they  shall  become  calm, 
and  their  judgments,  unswayed  by  prejudice,  shall 
allow  them  mutually  to  defer  to  each  other's  opinions, 
they  will  recede  from  the  extremes  to  which  they 


1840.]  DISCUSSIONS   AND   MEASURES.  555 


have  pushed  themselves,  and  meet  on  the  tme  prin-- 
ciples  of  Methodism,  become  content  to  treat  the 
subject  after  the  manner  of  St.  Paul,  and  live 
together  in  harmony  and  brotherly  love." 

Before  the  bishop  had  made  his  address,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hodges,  of  the  Georgia  Conference,  had  endeav- 
oured to  explain  the  resolutions  of  that  conference, 
the  peculiar  circumstances  under  which  they  were 
passed,  and  also  to  defend  them.  But  the  Bev.  Wm. 
A.  Smith,  of  Virginia,  followed  him  in  opposition 
to  the  course  he  suggested,  and  went  largely  into 
the  general  question  of  slavery.  He  in  turn  was  fol- 
lowed by  other  speakers,  and  a  somewhat  extended 
discussion  ensued.  But  the  suggestion  of  the  bishop 
prevailed,  and  the  offensive  references  were  stricken 
out. 

The  general  subject  of  slavery  entered  into  the 
discussions  and  measures  of  this  conference  in  an 
unusual  degree.  We  have  already  noticed  how  the 
committee  on  itinerancy  found  themselves  involved 
in  the  subject.  The  committee  on  slavery  reported 
very  stringent  resolutions  against  "Modem  Aboli- 
tionism ;"  but  their  report,  so  far  as  we  can  per- 
ceive, was  never  adopted.  The  appeal  of  the  Rev. 
Silas  Comfort  from  the  decision  of  the  Missouri 
Annual  Conference,  which  had  charged  him  with 
maladministration  for  receiving  the  testimony  of  a 
coloured  person  against  a  white  person  in  a  Church 
trial,  brought  the  question  of  slavery  up  in  a  new 
form.    Tlie  appeal  was  entertained,  and  the  decision 

24 


556 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 


of  the  ^issom-i  Conference  reversed.  This  decision 
gave  umbrage  to  the  southern  delegates.  They  con- 
sidered it  as  a  vii'tual  sanction  of  the  practice  of 
admitting  the  testimony  of  coloured  persons  against 
white  persons  in  Church  trials ;  and,  by  implication 
at  least,  a  censure  of  the  ordinary  administration  in 
the  South,  Tvhere  such  testimony  was  rejected.  Dr. 
I.  A.  Few,  therefore,  introduced  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which,  after  an  exciting  and  j)rotracted  debate, 
was  adopted : — 

Resolved^  That  it  is  inexpedient  and  unjustifiable 
for  any  preacher  to  permit  coloured  persons  to  give 
testimony  against  white  pei*sons  in  any  state  where 
they  are  denied  that  privilege  by  law." 

It  comes  not  within  our  province  to  discuss  the 
evil  principle  imbedded  in  this  resolution,  nor  the 
evil  practices  which  it  might  shield.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  it  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  the  northern 
delegates.  So  intense  was  the  feehng  that  a  northern 
delegate,  who  had  at  first  seconded  the  resolution 
of  Dr.  Few,  moved  its  reconsideration.  Tliis  occa- 
sioned quite  a  display  of  parliamentary  tactics,  and 
not  a  little  discussion.  When  the  vote  was  finally 
reached,  it  stood  sixty-nine  to  sixty-nine.  Bishop 
Hedding  was  in  the  chair,  and  was  called  upon  to 
give  the  casting  vote.  He  knew  this  had  been  done 
in  several  instances  when  there  was  a  tie  in  the 
General  Conference,  but  it  was  the  first  time  he  had 
ever  been  called  upon  to  exercise  this  function.  He 
now  arose  and  declined  giving  the  casting  vote ;  not, 


1840.]  A   BISHOP    NO   RIGHT   TO   VOTE.  557 

as  he  said,  that  he  was  unwilling  to  give  his  opinion 
in  the  case  pending,  but  because  he  did  not  think 
he  had  a  constitutional  right  to  do  so,  and  gave 
the  following  reasons  for  this  opinion.  He  said,  "  In 
the  original  General  Conference  the  bishops  not 
only  had  a  right  to  give  the  casting  vote,  but  to 
sj^eak  and  vote  on  all  subjects  if  they  chose  to  do  so. 
They  had  the  right,  because  all  travelling  preachers 
who  had  been  in  the  connexion  four  years  had  it, 
and  they  had  the  right  as  travelling  preachers ;  but 
when  the  delegated  General  Conference  was  con- 
stituted that  right  was  taken  away — probably  not 
by  design,  but  inadvertently.  Under  the  an-ange- 
ment  for  a  delegated  General  Conference,  the  Dis- 
cipline has  always  said  in  substance, — ^The  General 
Conference  shall  be  composed  of  delegates  from  the 
annual  conferences.  The  bishops,  not  being  dele- 
gates from  any  annual  conference,  have  no  right  to 
vote,  and  consequently  no  right  to  give  a  casting 
vote.  The  Discipline  provides  that  they  shall  pre- 
side in  the  General  Conferences,  but  it  does  not 
provide  that  they  shall  vote.  The  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Kepresentatives  in  Congress  can  give  the 
casting  vote,  because  he  forms  a  part  of  the  body, 
and  is  elected  and  sent  there  as  others  are.  The 
President  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  has  a 
right  to  give  the  casting  vote,  because,  though  not 
an  elected  member,  the  constitution  gives  him  that 
right.  If  our  constitution  had  given  the  bishops  a 
right  to  vote,  I  should  be  wilhng  now  to  give  the 


558  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

casting  vote;  but  as  it  does  not,  I  mnst  decline." 
The  bishop  went  on  further  to  state  that  this  rule 
appHed  to  presiding  elders  in  a  quarterly  confer- 
ence, and  to  a  preacher  presiding  on  a  Church  trial. 
1^'either  of  them  had  a  right  to  give  the  casting  vote. 

"We  have  introduced  this  matter  not  merely  as 
an  item  of  history  connected  with  Bishop  Hedding, 
but,  first,  because  the  mere  statement  of  the  facts 
and  his  reasons  exhibit  the  folly  and  injustice  of 
the  outcry  that  was  raised  against  him  for  declining 
the  vote  on  this  occasion;  secondly,  the  decision, 
made  so  clearly  and  conclusively  in  a  case  that  was 
unexpectedly  sprung  upon  him, — and  that,  too,  in 
opposition  to  the  general  usage  in  such  cases, — shows 
how  profoundly  he  had  studied  the  principles  of  our 
ecclesiastical  jurisprudence,  and  how  admirably  he 
was  adapted  to  be  the  presiding  officer  of  a  delibera- 
tive body.  In  the  third  place,  this  incident  shows 
how  careful  he  was  not  to  trench  upon  the  consti- 
tutional powers  committed  to  him,  and  presents  him 
in  a  very  different  light  from  that  in  which  some 
had  sought  to  place  him,  as  grasping  after  authority 
not  legitimately  committed  to  him. 

It  is  perhaps  well  to  add  that  this  offensive  resolu- 
tion was  subsequently  explained,  as  to  its  true  intent 
and  pm-port,  by  three  supplementary  resolutions, 
passed  by  the  General  Conference  a  few  days  before 
its  adjournment.  Thus  it  continued  four  years,  and 
was  then  rescinded  by  the  same  body  that  enacted  it. 

Tlie  incidents  we  have  here  spoken  of  were,  in 


1840.]    CLOSE  OF  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE.  559 

some  sort,  episodes  in  the  usual  routine  of  General 
Conference  business.  The  ordinary  business  of  the 
conference  was  transacted  with  unusual  despatch  and 
directness.  It  embraced  a  great  variety  of  subjects — • 
Sunday  schools,  missions,  Bible  distribution,  coloni- 
zation, temperance,  the  proper  administration  of 
discipline,  our  fraternal  relations  to  the  Wesleyan 
connexion  in  England,  and  also  in  Canada,  and 
various  other  interests  of  a  minor  character.  It  is 
not  our  purpose  to  detail  them ;  they  belong  rather 
to  the  general  history  of  the  Church,  than  to  the 
history  of  the  subject  of  our  narrative.  Tlie  Pastoral 
Address  is  brief,  but  pertinent.  It  is  mild  and  con- 
ciliatory in  its  character,  deeply  spiritual  in  its  tone, 
and  was  written  in  a  chaste  and  beautiful  style. 
Considerable  harmony  and  good  feeling  were  evinced 
at  the  close  of  the  session.  Bishop  Soule,  who  was 
in  the  chair  at  the  time,  made  a  brief  address,  refer- 
ring to  the  differences  of  opinion  that  had  existed, 
and  expressing  his  gratification  at  the  brotherly 
kindness  and  affection  that  had  been  so  uniformly 
manifested,  and  also  his  firm  persuasion  that  the 
action  of  this  General  Conference  would  exert  a 
most  salutary  influence  upon  the  future  prosperity, 
peace,  and  unity  of  the  Church.  "  In  this,"  says  he, 
"I  do  rejoice,  and  will  rejoice." 

He  exhorted  the  brethren  to  go  forth  resolved 
to  carry  out  the  great  measures  adopted  to  promote 
the  interests  of  the  Church,  to  refrain  from  unkind 
expressions  toward  brethren  when  differences  of 


560  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1840. 

opinion  existed,  and  to  clierisli  the  spirit  of  brotherly 
lore  and  Christian  union.  Finally  he  gave  out  the 
hymn  commencing, — 

"  And  let  our  "bodies  part, 

To  different  climes  repair ; 
Inseparably  joined  in  heart 

TKe  friends  of  Jesus  are." 

This  hymn  was  sung  with  great  fervour  by  the 
conference.  A  deeply  affecting  prayer  was  then 
offered,  and  the  General  Conference  of  1840  ad- 
journed sine  die.  The  results  of  this  session  seemed 
fall  of  promise  for  the  future  peace  and  unity  of 
the  Church. 

After  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  Bishop 
Hedding  visited  the  New- York  and  the  I^ew-England 
Conferences  in  company  with  Bishop  Soule.  The  for- 
mer commenced  in  the  city  of  Kew-York,  June  10th ; 
the  latter  in  the  city  of  Lowell,  July  1st.  After 
this  he  spent  a  few  days  at  home  in  Lansingburgh, 
answering  the  letters  that  had  accumulated  during 
his  absence.  On  the  18th  of  the  same  month  he  left 
home,  ti*avelling  by  land  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by 
steamboat  to  Erie  ;  he  met  at  that  place  the  Erie 
Conference  on  the  5th  of  August.  Then  he  went 
by  steamboat  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  thence  pro- 
ceeded by  land  to  Marshall,  in  the  interior  of  the 
state,  where  he  met  the  Michigan  Conference  August 
19th.  "  Tliis,"  he  says,  "  is  a  young  but  promisiug 
conference,  and  the  session  was  one  of  peculiar  inter- 
est ;  but  it  was  a  time  of  great  distress  on  account  of 


1840.]  CONFERENCES    OF   THIS   YEAR.  561 


sickness,  from  the  bilious  diseases  of  that  coimtiy 
which  were  prevailing.  Many  of  the  preachers  were 
sick.  Here  I  ordained  one  of  the  preachers  in  his 
bed;  he  was  unable  even  to  sit  up  during  the 
service." 

From  Marshall  he  returned  to  Detroit,  and  thence 
bj  steamboat  to  Huron,  Ohio.  He  rode  from  Huron 
to  Xorwalk  in  a  wagon,  and  there  met  the  Xorth 
Ohio  Conference  on  the  9th  of  September.  "  Here," 
he  says,  "  I  found  a  great  many  old  acquaintances  in 
the  membership  of  the  Church  that  I  had  formerly 
known  in  !N"ew-England.  Here,  too,  I  found  many 
devoted  and  consistent  influential  Methodists."  The 
next  and  last  conference  he  attended  this  year  was 
the  Ohio,  which  met  at  Zanesville,  September  30th. 
Of  the  members  of  this  conference  he  says,  "They 
are  a  talented  and  devoted  body  of  men,  of  great 
influence  in  that  country." 

Having  completed  his  conference  labours  for  the 
season,  he  turned  his  face  homeward ;  but  as  he  had  a 
number  of  engagements  by  the  way,  he  did  not  reach 
home  till  the  last  of  October.  He,  however,  spent 
but  a  few  days  here  before  he  left  again,  having  an 
engagement  to  dedicate  the  new  church  that  had 
been  erected  in  Bedford-street,  N'ew-York  city.  His 
sermon  for  the  occasion  was  preached  from  Exodus 
XX,  24:  "  An  altar  of  earth  thou  shalt  make  unto  me, 
and  shalt  sacrifice  thereon  thy  burnt-ofi*erings,  and 
thy  peace-ofi'erings,  thy  sheep,  and  thine  oxen:  in 
all  places  where  I  record  my  name  I  will  come  unto 


562 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1841. 


tliee,  and  I  will  bless  tliee."  In  addition  to  this  he 
visited  the  Chnrches  in  Williamsburgh  and  Mattea- 
wan,  and  reached  home  about  the  last  of  IS'ovem- 
ber. 

The  winter  was  spent  mainly  at  home ;  though  he 
occasionally  visited  societies  in  the  vicinity,  and 
preached  to  them  the  word  of  hfe. 

Owing  to  a  change  in  the  time  of  publishing 
the  Annual  Minutes,  only  nineteen  conferences  are 
definitely  reported  in  the  issue  for  this  year;  but  these 
nineteen  reported  a  general  increase  of  fifty-four 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-six. 

Early  in  the  ensuing  spring  Bishop  Hedding  dedi- 
cated the  John-street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a 
new  edifice  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  one.  The 
text  for  the  occasion  was  1  Thess.  i,  8:  "For  from  you 
sounded  out  the  word  of  the  Lord  not  only  in  Mace- 
donia and  Achaia,  but*  also  in  every  place  yom-  faith 
to  God-ward  is  spread  abroad."  Tlie  text  as  well  as 
the  discourse  was  beautifully  appropriate  to  the  occa- 
sion. Many  things  contributed  to  make  this  dedica- 
tion exceedingly  interesting  to  the  bishop.  He  says : 
"  It  was  the  third  church  that  had  been  built  on  that 
ground;  it  was  the  spot  on  which  was  erected  the 
first  Methodist  church  in  America.  The  first  church 
erected  upon  this  spot  was  the  one  in  which,  nearly 
forty  years  before,  I  was  admitted  into  the  itinerant 
connexion.  The  scene  brought  many  endearing  rec- 
ollections to  my  mind.  The  memories  of  those  who 
were  present  at  the  conference  of  1801,  but  have  long 


1841.1  DEDICATION  OF  JOHN-STEEET  CHTECH.  563 

since  been  numbered  among  the  venerable  dead,  came 
rushing  upon  me  with  overwhelming  force.  Bishop 
Whatcoat,  who  presided  at  that  conference,  and 
nearly  all  the  then  active  members  of  the  body,  also 
aU  the  private  members  of  the  Church  I  then  became 
acquainted  with,  have  passed  away." 

The  occasion,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  accounts 
of  it  published  in  the  jom*nals  of  the  day,  was  as 
deeply  interesting  to  the  public  as  it  was  to  the 
bishop  himself. 

The  following  brief  account  of  this  admirable  dis- 
course is  taken  from  the  report  published  in  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  at  the  time  : — 

"In  the  introductory  part  of  his  discourse  the 
bishop  gave  a  beautiful  exposition  of  his  text,  in 
connexion  with  St.  Luke's  account,  in  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  of  the  labours  of  St.  Paul  and  his  colleagues, 
and  of  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  into  Greece, 
and  especially  of  its  success  among  the  Thessalonians, 
and  of  their  instrumentality  in  spreading  it  abroad. 
Thessalonica  was  one  of  the  principal  seaports  of 
ancient  Greece — a  great  commercial  city ;  and  being 
advantageously  situated  for  trade,  had  an  extensive 
connexion  with  other  cities  in  that  part  of  tlie  world. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  cities  in  Em-ope  that  received 
the  gospel,  and  on  account  of  its  maritime  and  com- 
mercial character  was  more  instrumental  in  spreading 
it  abroad  than  any  other  city. 

"  In  the  course  of  his  sermon  the  bishop  showed, 
in  a  very  lucid  maimer,  that  the  Word  of  the  Lord 
24- 


564 


LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1841. 


was  the  great  instrument  employed  bj  tlie  Divine 
Being  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  After  this  point 
had  been  very  ablv  demonstrated,  the  bishop  took  a 
view  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Word  had  been,  and 
still  continues  to  be,  spread  abroad  in  every  place. 
The  first  apostles  were  greatly  insti'umental  in  this 
good  work,  but  they  were  not  the  only  instruments ; 
the  merchants  and  private  Christians  did  much  in 
spreading  it.  "When  persons  from  the  distant  cities 
and  country  places  came  to  Thessalonica  to  trade,  or 
to  make  a  visit,  the  Chi'istian  merchants  would  tell 
them  of  the  work  of  the  Lord  among  them;  they 
would  invite  them  to  hear  the  apostles,  to  attend 
their  meetings,  and  to  behold  the  wonderful  works 
of  God  among  their  fellow-citizens.  These  foreign- 
el's  and  visiters  becoming  convinced  of  the  truth, 
would  carry  the  news  home  with  them ;  would  prob- 
ably invite  the  apostles  to  make  them  a  visit  also ;  or 
when  the  merchants  went  abroad  to  collect  their 
bills,  or  the  citizens  went  to  visit  their  relations  in 
distant  places,  they  would  caiTy  the  good  word  of  God 
with  them.  It  would  be  in  their  hearts  and  upon 
their  tongues ;  and  they  would  speak  of  it  on  every 
occasion,  and  in  all  places  whithei*soever  they  went. 
It  was  thus  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  sounded  out 
from  them.  E'ot  only  in  Macedonia  and  Achaia,  but 
also  in  every  place,  their  faith  to  God-ward  was  spread 
abroad. 

"  In  many  particulars  there  was  a  striking  similarity 
between  the  case  of  the  citizens  of  Thessalonica  and 


1841.] 


DEDICATION  SERMON. 


565 


that  of  the  people  of  ^^'ew-York.  While  the  apostles 
were  labouring  in  Asia  Minor,  a  vision  appeared  to 
Paul  in  the  night.  There  stood  a  man  of  Macedonia, 
and  prayed  him,  saying,  '  Come  over  into  Macedonia 
and  help  us.'  This  was  the  introduction  of  the  gos- 
pel into  Europe ;  and  similar  Was  the  introduction 
of  Methodism,  by  means  of  itinerant  preaching,  in 
this  country.  A  call  went  over  the  great  waters, 
saying  to  Mr.  "Wesley,  '  Come  over  and  help  us,'  or 
send  us  help.  The  venerable  Asbury,  'in  labours 
more  like  the  Apostle  Paul  than  any  other  man  I  ever 
knew,'  said  the  bishop,  and  others,  heard  that  call, 
and  came  to  our  help.  The  church  w^s  erected  on 
this  very  spot,  Mr.  Wesley  aiding  in  its  erection  by  a 
donation  of  fifty  pounds  sterling.  Thus  the  gospel, 
by  means  of  itinerant  ministers,  was  planted  on  these 
shores;  and  from  this  place  'sounded  out  the  word 
of  the  Lord '  to  the  south,  to  the  north,  to  the  east,  and 
to  the  west. 

"In  the  pro'gress  of  this  discourse  the  bishop  re- 
lated many  pleasing  incidents  from  his  own  personal 
history  and  observation,  and  all  illustrative  of  the 
doctrine  contained  m  the  text.  A  more  appropriate 
text  for  such  an  occasion,  and  a  more  happy  method 
of  illustration,  we  seldom  or  never  heard.  The  effect 
was  fine.  A  spirit  in  support  of  that  cause  which  had 
been  so  greatly  blessed  pervaded  the  assembly.  The 
congregation  was  not  large ;  but  there  were  present 
of  the  first,  second,  and  third  generations  of  Method- 
ists, and  some  who  had  worshipped  in  the  first  and  in 


566  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1841. 

the  second  house,  which  stood  where  this  now  stands, 
who  gave  of  that  in  which  God  had  prospered  them 
toward  the  liquidation  of  the  debt  incurred  by  the 
present  building.  We  are  glad  to  see  a  root  of  primi- 
tive Methodism  still  vigorous  and  growing,  in  the 
very  spot  where  th€#  first  scion  was  planted  on  these 
western  shores.  John-street  Church,  in  a  certain 
sens'e,  is  '  the  mother  of  us  all,'  and  we  love  to  pay 
her  the  respect  which  is  due  to  her  piety  and  zeal." 

Soon  after  this  he  laid  the  comer-stone,  and  de- 
livered a  discourse,  on  the  foundation  of  a  new 
church  in  Xorth  Eighth-street,  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

This  year  Bishop  Hedding  met  the  Philadelphia 
Conference  at  Philadelphia,  April  Tth;  the  ISTew- 
Jersey,  at  Newark,  April  28th ;  the  Kew-York,  at 
K'ew-York,  May  17th;  the  Providence,  at  Provi- 
dence, June  9th;  the  ISTew-England,  at  Worcester, 
June  30th ;  and  the  Maine,  at  Skowhegan,  July  21st. 

At  the  session  of  four  of  these  conferences  he 
delivered  an  address  on  the  administration  of  dis- 
cipline. Each  of  them  in  turn  requested  its  publica- 
tion, and  it  was  eventually  issued  in  a  miniature 
book  form.  Like  everything  else  that  emanated 
from  the  mind  of  the  bishop  upon  that  subject,  it 
is  clear,  practical,  and  of  great  utility.  It  has 
become  a  standard  authority  upon  the  subject,  and 
should  be  the  pocket-companion  of  every  one  who 
is  called  to  administer  the  discipline  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


1841.] 


CHRISTIAN  PERFECTION. 


667 


Wliile  at  the  session  of  the  New-Jersey  Confer- 
ence this  spring,  Bishop  Hedding  was  requested  to 
address  that  body  upon  the  subject  of  Christian 
perfection ;  especially  to  state  the  nature  of  justi- 
fication, regeneration,  and  entire  sanctification,  and 
the  difference  between  them  as  distinct  works  of 
grace.  This  request  was  made  at  the  opening  of 
the  conference,  and  having  to  address  the  candi- 
dates for  ordination  during  the  forenoon,  he  em- 
braced the  opportunity  to  express  his  views  on  the 
subject.  The  conference  requested  their  publica- 
tion, and  they  were  subsequently  written  out  and 
published.  As  they  contain  not  only  the  distinct 
enunciation  of  Bishop  Hedding's  views,  but  also  a 
lucid  and  satisfactory  enunciation  of  this  vital 
doctrine  in  the  Christian  system,  we  give  them 
entire : — 

"  Brethren, — Among  many  other  important  ques- 
tions, the  following  have  been  asked  you,  and  you 
have  answered  them  in  the  afiirmative : — '  Are  you 
going  on  to  perfection?  Do  you  expect  to  be  made 
perfect  in  love  in  this  hfe?  Are  you  groaning 
after  it?' 

"  It  is  important  for  you,  as  Christians  and  as 
ministers,  to  have  a  thorough  understanding  of  this 
great  subject.  The  subject  is  Christian  perfection, 
or  being  made  perfect  in  love  in  this  life.  It  is 
being  delivered  from  sin,  and  filled  with  the  love 
of  God.  The  brethren  ask  me  to  state  'the  nature 
of  justification,  regeneration,  and  sanctification,  and 


568  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1841. 

the  diiFerence  between  tliem  as  distinct  works  of 
grace.'  I  undei-^tand  justification  to  be  a  pardon 
of  past  sins ;  and  regeneration,  which  takes  place 
at  the  same  time,  to  be  a  change  of  heart,  or  of  our 
moral  nature.  Regeneration  also,  being  the  same 
as  the  new  birth,  is  the  beginning  of  sanctification, 
though  not  the  completion  of  it,  or  not  entire  sancti- 
fication. Regeneration  is  the  beginning  of  purifica- 
tion ;  entire  sanctification  is  the  finishing  of  that 
work. 

"  The  difi'erence  between  a  justified  soul  who  is 
not  fully  sanctified,  and  one  fully  sanctified,  I  under- 
stand to  be  this  : — 

"  The  fii'st  (if  he  does  not  backslide)  is  kept  from 
voluntarily  committing  known  sin,  which  is  what 
is  commonly  meant  in  the  xsfew  Testament  by  com- 
mitting  sin.  But  he  yet  finds  in  himself  the  remains 
of  inbred  corruption,  or  original  sin;  such  as  pride, 
anger,  enyy,  a  feeling  of  hatred  to  an  enemy,  a 
rejoicing  at  a  calamity  which  has  fallen  upon  an 
enemy,  &c. 

"  Xow  in  all  this  the  regenerate  soul  does  not 
act  yoluntarily ;  his  choice  is  against  all  these  eyils. 
God  has  given  him  a  new  heart,  which  hates  all 
these  eyils,  and  resists  and  overcomes  them  as  soon 
as  the  mind  perceives  them.  The  regenerate  soul 
wishes  these  evils  were  not  in  his  heart,  yet  he  has 
in  himself  no  power  to  destroy  them.  Though  the 
Christian  does  not  feel  guilty  for  this  depravity  as 
he  would  do  if  he  had  voluntarily  broken  the  law 


1841.1 


CHRISTIAN  PERFECTION. 


669 


of  God,  yet  he  is  often  grieved,  and  afflicted,  and 
reproved  at  a  sight  of  this  sinfulness  of  his  nature. 

"  Though  the  soul  in  this  state  enjoys  a  degree 
of  religion,  yet  it  is  conscious  it  is  not  what  it  ought 
to  be,  nor  what  it  must  be  to  be  fit  for  heaven. 

"  It  seems  that  the  sinfulness  of  our  nature,  or 
original  sin,  may  remain  in  the  new-born  soul  inde- 
pendent of  choice,  and  even  against  choice. 

"  The  second,  or  the  person  fully  sanctified,  is 
cleansed  from  all  these  involuntary  sins. 

"  He  may  be  tempted  by  Satan,  by  men,  and  by 
his  own  bodily  appetites,  to  commit  sin,  but  his 
heart  is  free  from  those  inward  fires  which  before 
his  full  sanctification  were  ready  to  fall  in  with 
temptation,  and  lead  him  into  transgression.  He 
may  be  tempted  to  be  proud,  to  love  the  world,  to 
be  revengeful  or  angry,  to  hate  an  enemy,  to  wish 
him  evil,  or  to  rejoice  at  his  calamity,  but  he  feels 
none  of  these  passions  in  his  heart ;  the  Holy  Ghost 
has  cleansed  him  from  all  these  pollutions  of  his 
nature.  Thus  it  is  that,  being  emptied  of  sin,  the 
perfect  Christian  is  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  even 
with  that  perfect  love  which  casteth  out  fear. 

"  But  is  this  sanctification  instantaneous,  or  grad- 
ual? It  is  both.  In  some  respects  it  is  one,  and  in 
other  respects  it  is  the  other.  In  a  soul  who  does 
not  backslide,  the  work  of  sanctification  goes  on 
gradually  till  it  is  finished,  and  that  event  is  instan- 
taneous. Finishing  the  work  is  accomplished  in  an 
instant.    Mr.  "Wesley  says  something  like  this:  *A 


570  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1841. 

man  may  be  some  time  dying,  but  tbere  is  an 
instant  in  which  he  dies.'  So  in  a  Christian,  sin 
may  be  some  time  dying,  but  there  is  an  instant  in 
which  it  dies,  and  that  event  is  full  sanctification. 
In  some,  the  fact  of  its  being  finished  in  an  instant 
is  more  apparent  to  the  subject  than  it  is  in  others. 

"  But  how  is  this  great  work  performed  ?  By  the 
Holy  Spirit — no  other  power  can  effect  it ;  and  this 
work  of  the  Spirit  is  obtained  only  through  the 
atonement,  and  through  faith  in  that  atonement. 
That  faith,  which  is  the  condition  of  this  entire  sanc- 
tification, is  exercised  only  by  a  penitent"  heart;  a 
heart  willing  to  part  with  all  sin  forever,  and  deter- 
mined to  do  the  will  of  God  in  all  things.  Believe 
and  pray  for  it;  it  is  as  important  that  you  should 
experience  this  holy  work,  as  it  is  that  the  sinners 
to  whom  you  preach  should  be  converted.  God  is 
as  able,  willing,  and  ready  to  do  this  great  work  for 
you  as  he  was  to  pardon  your  sins.  Christ  is  able 
to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come  to  God  through 
him.  But  what  would  be  the  fate  of  a  soul  bom 
of  the  Spirit,  but  not  fully  sanctified,  called  to  die  in 
that  state?  If  he  have  not  backslidden  he  would 
go  to  heaven ;  not  that  he  is  now  fit  for  heaven,  but 
Christ  would  fit  him  should  he  call  him  out  of  the 
world.  Before  his  departure  Christ  would  either 
accept  his  weak  faith,  or  give  him  a  degree  of  faith 
equal  to  his  wants,  and  thus  save  his  soul.  This 
view  is  supported  by  the  numerous  promises  in 
Scripture  of  eternal  salvation  to  all  who  die  the 


1842.] 


CHRISTIAN  PERFECTION. 


571 


children  of  God.  Those  promises  to  such  as  per- 
severe and  remain  the  children  of  God,  include  all 
the  work  of  grace  necessary  to  fit  them  for  heaven. 
But  these  views  furnish  no  excuse  for  us  to  neglect 
seeking  full  sanctification  now.  If  we  were  sure  we 
should  Kve  twenty  years,  then  experience  full  sancti- 
fication and  die,  there  would  be  many  and  important 
reasons  for  us  to  seek  that  great  blessing  now,  and 
so  to  believe  as  to  experience  it  this  day.  With  it 
we  should  be  more  happy,  and  more  useful ;  and  as 
we  are  changeable  creatures,  with  this  blessing  we 
shall  be  more  safe  than  we  could  be  without  it.  But 
can  a  person  possessing  perfect  love  perfectly  keep 
God's  holy  law,  as  angels  do  in  heaven  ?  'No ;  if  he 
could,  he  would  no  longer  need  the  atonement  any 
more  than  holy  angels  do.  Yet,  through  the  atone- 
ment, he  may  acceptably  keep  the  law. 

"  He  loves  God  with  all  his  heart,  and  his  neigh- 
bour as  himself;  he  acts  in  all  things  under  the  influ- 
ence of  that  love ;  and  this  is  the  end  of  the  command- 
ment, and  the  fulfilling  of  the  law.  And  though 
this  soul  is  free  from  what  the  Bible  calls  sin,  yet 
he  has  infirmities  and  unavoidable  faihngs  growing 
out  of  the  original  fall,  on  account  of  which  he  ought 
to  say, — ■ 

*  Every  moment,  Lord,  I  need 
The  merits  of  thy  death.' 

Forgive  me  my  trespasses,  &c.  Unavoidable  mis- 
takes and  failings  are  covered  by  the  atonement, 
and  through  it  his  obedience  is  accepted." 


572  LIFE   AXD   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1842. 

The  returns  this  year,  published  immediately  after 
the  session  of  the  ISTew-York  Annual  Conference, 
are  of  a  most  encom-aging  character.  The  number 
of  members  reported  was  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighteen,  being  an 
increase  of  fifty-seven  thousand  four  hundred  and 
seventy-three ;  number  of  travelling  preachers  three 
thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  increase 
one  hundred  and  seventy-eight;  number  of  local 
preachers  six  thousand  thi-ee  hundred  and  ninety- 
three,  increase  fifty-four.  In  the  Indiana  Conference 
of  this  year  there  was  an  increase  of  nine  thousand 
and  eighty-one,  making  that,  in  point  of  numbers, 
the  fourth  conference  in  the  connexion.  It  was  also 
a  year  of  remarkable  prosperity  in  the  Pittsburgh, 
Baltimore,  and  Maine  Conferences,  their  respective 
net  gains  in  membership  being  four  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  forty-seven,  three  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  thirty-nine,  and  three  thousand  five  hundred 
and  ninety-six. 

In  1842  Bishop  Hedding  presided  over  the  Troy 
Conference,  which  met  at  Burlington,  Yt.,  June  1st ; 
over  the  Xew-Hampshire  and  Vermont  Conferences, 
which  met  at  Kewbury,  Yt.,  June  25th;  the  Black 
River  Conference,  at  Watertown,  July  21st;  the 
Oneida  Conference,  at  Oxford,  August  11th ;  and  the 
Genesee  Conference,  at  Bochester,  September  1st. 

During  the  session  of  the  New-Hampshire  Con- 
ference, an  incident  occurred  which  finely  displays 
the  readiness  and  sagacity  of  Bishop  Hedding  as  a 


1842.]  SAGACITY   AND   READINESS.  673 


presiding  officer.  The  ultra  excitement  on  the  sub- 
ject of  slavery  had,  to  a  great  extent,  died  away 
since  the  last  General  Conference,  notwithstanding 
the  great  efforts  made  to  keep  it  alive.  We  do 
not  mean  that  the  people  were  less  opposed  to 
slavery,  but  that  they  had  grown  wiser  by  expe- 
rience, and  were  determined  to  exhibit  their  opposi- 
tion in  a  more  feasible  form.  Several,  however, 
who  had  been  foremost  in  the  movement,  now,  as 
they  saw  the  public  mind  becoming  quieted,  and 
settling  down  in  the  conviction  that  no  good  result 
could  be  reahzed  from  ultra  measures,  became  dis- 
appointed, sullen,  and  alienated  from  the  Church, 
and  prejudiced  against  its  administration.  One  of 
this  class  now  offered  a  resolution  to  the  following 
import : — 

"  Whereas  Bishop  Hedding,  in  a  certain  publica- 
tion, has  advanced  the  opinion  that,  when  the 
preachers  of  any  conference  become  disorderly,  and 
will  not  execute  the  discipline  of  the  Church,  the 
bishop  has  a  right  to  transfer  them  to  other  con- 
ferences, where  they  may  be  corrected ;  and  whereas 
the  preachers  of  the  southern  conferences  do  not, 
and  will  not  execute  the  discipline — 

Resolved^  That  Bishop  Hedding  is  hereby  re- 
quested to  transfer  those  preachei-s  to  other  con- 
ferences." 

The  evident  design  of  the  resolution  was  not  only 
to  operate  on  public  sentiment,  but  also  to  ensnare 
the  bishop ;  the  mover  supposing  he  would  refuse 


574  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1842. 


to  entertain  the  subject.  He  was  not  so  easily 
entrapped.  He  at  once  saw  through  the  design, 
and  determined  to  meet  it.  "  Yerj  well,"  said  he, 
"  if  you  pass  this  resolution  to  transfer  the  southern 
preachers  north,  we  shall  have  to  transfer  the 
northern  men  south  to  fill  their  places.  And  the 
first  one  I  shall  transfer  south  will  be  brother  Robin- 
son himself,  the  mover  of  the  resolution.  I  will 
transfer  him  immediately  to  ISTew-Orleans,  for  we 
want  a  preacher  there  now.  K  you  are  ready,  we 
will  put  the  question."  Tlie  trapper  found  himself 
entrapped.  With  not  a  little  haste  and  tremulous- 
ness,  a  motion  was  made  for  the  indefinite  postpone- 
ment of  the  resolution,  and  was  carried  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote. 

This  year  a  brother  withdrew  from  the  Genesee 
Conference,  having  been  led  to  embrace  the  doctrine 
of  "man's  natural  ability,"  as  it  is  usually  termed; 
that  is,  that  man  by  his  own  will  has  power  to  change 
his  own  heart.  This  naturally  elicited  considerable 
attention,  and  made  the  subject  a  matter  of  no  little 
conversation  and  discussion.  During  the  session  of 
the  conference,  taking  advantage  of  a  pause  in  its 
business,  while  the  body  were  waiting  for  the  report 
of  a  committee,  the  bishop  arose  and  addressed  them 
upon  the  subject.  His  remarks  show  how  profoundly 
he  had  thought,  and  how  closely  he  had  reasoned 
upon  the  subject.  Tliey  made  a  profound  impression 
upon  the  conference  at  the  time ;  and  their  pubHca- 
tion  being  called  for  from  different  quarters,  they 


1842.]         EEMARKS   ON   NATUEAL   ABILITY.  575 

were  finally  written  out  and  publislied  in  tlie  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  J oumal. 

"  Brethren, — ^While  we  are  waiting  for  the  report 
of  a  committee,  let  ns  occupy  the  time  in  reflecting 
on  our  own  religious  experience.  'Examine  your- 
selves whether  ye  be  in  the  faith,'  is  an  admonition 
necessary  for  ministers  as  well  as  for  people.  Men 
are  hable  to  be  deceived  with  regard  to  their  own 
conversion,  and  to  satisfy  themselves  with  a  work  of 
the  imagination  instead  of  the  work  of  the  Spirit. 
Let  us,  therefore,  compare  our  experience  with  the 
Word  of  God,  and  satisfy  om*selves  that  we  are  truly 
bom  of  the  Spirit. 

"  We  are  in  danger  of  being  deceived  in  another 
way.  Having  been  really  bora  of  God,  we  may 
backslide  in  heart,  lose  the  spirit  we  then  received 
from  heaven,  and  yet  retain  the  form,  the  morals, 
and  the  profession  of  Christianity,  and  still  persuade 
ourselves  that  we  are  as  pious  as  when  we  were  warm 
in  our  first  love !  Let  us  look  into  this  matter,  and 
see  whether  we  are,  indeed,  as  near  to  Christ  as 
when  we  were  first  made  partakers  of  his  love.  We 
ought  to  be  nearer ;  we  should  be  growing  in  grace, 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  But  what  is  it  to  experience  religion  ?  It  is  to 
have  our  sins  forgiven — to  be  regenerated,  or  bora 
again.  Two  works  done  at  the  same  time :  the  one 
setting  us  free  from  the  guilt  of  our  past  sins ;  the 
other  changing  our  hearts,  giving  us  a  new  spiritual 
nature.    But  who  is  the  author  of  this  great  work  ? 


576  LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1842. 


God  alone.  "Who  can  forgive  sin,  but  God  only? — 
who  can  make  the  fallen  soul  '  a  new  creature,'  but 
the  Creator  ?  '  You  hath  he  quickened  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.'  '  Which  were  born,  not 
of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will 
of  man,  but  of  God.'  '  That  which  is  born  of  the 
flesh  is  flesh;  and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is 
spirit.'  'For  we  are  his  workmanship,  created  in 
Christ  Jesus  unto  good  works.' 

"  Yet  an  opinion  has  been  advanced,  that  man  can 
change  his  own  heart ;  and  it  has  been  countenanced 
bj  a  brother  who  has  withdrawn  from  us  during  this 
session.  '  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin,  or  the 
leopard  his  spots  V 

"The  school  from  which  this  new  and  strange 
doctrine  proceeds,  builds  upon  the  assumption  that 
all  sin  consists  in  choice ;  that  there  is  no  sin  in  man 
independent  of,  or  pi*ior  to,  choice.  Also,  that  all 
holiness  consists  in  choosing  to  do  holy  acts ;  that 
there  is  no  holiness  in  the  nature  of  a  saint  from 
which  holy  acts  proceed;  and  consequently,  that 
when  a  man  chooses  to  turn  away4l*om  sin,  and  to 
perform  holy  acts,  that  act  of  choosing  is  changing 
his  own  heart ;  it  is  regeneration ;  it  is  the  new 
birth. 

"But,  if  there  be  no  sinfulness  in  man  prior  to 
choice,  what  becomes  of  infants  who  die  before  they 
are  capable  of  choice?  ITj^on  this  theory  they  could 
be  neither  sinful  nor  holy ;  consequently  they  could 
go  neither  to  hell  nor  to  heaven.    Yet  the  Scriptures 


1842.] 


NATURAL  ABILITY. 


577 


teacli  that  '  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all 
have  sinned and  that  'judgment  came  upon  all  men 
to  condemnation.'  The  same  Scriptures  teach  us 
that  Christ  died  for  all  the  family  of  Adam,  and  that 
all  dying  infants  go  to  heaven  through  his  blood. 
Christ  says,  '  of  sucn  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 
All  infants  in  heaven  will  join  in  this  song:  'Thou 
hast  redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  blood.'  Christ 
tasted  death  for  every  man — for  every  human  being. 
'Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other.'  Yet  he 
died  for  none  but  sinners.  Had  not  infants  been  in 
some  sense  sinful,  they  could  not  have  been  redeemed 
by  Christ.  If  there  is  no  sinfulness  in  the  human 
heart  independent  of  choice,  why  did  our  Saviour 
say,  'ITeither  can  a  corrupt  tree  bring  forth  good 
fruit?'  Why  did  St.  Paul  say,  'But  the  evil  which 
I  would  not,  that  I  do  V  St.  Paul  spoke  this  of  the 
depraved  nature  of  an  unregenerate  man.  He 
teaches,  that  in  a  convicted  sinner  that  depravity 
would  sometimes  rankle,  burn,  and  rage,  not  only 
independent  of,  but  contrary  to  his  choice. 

"This  doctrine  is  in  perfect  accordance  with  our 
seventh  article  of  religion :  '  Original  sin  is  the  cor- 
ruption of  the  nature  of  every  man  that  naturally  is 
engendered  of  the  offspring  of  Adam,  whereby  man 
is  very  far  gone  from  original  righteousness,  and  of 
his  own  nature  inclined  to  evil,  and  that  continually.' 
This  is  the  doctrine  taught  by  our  Lord  when  he  said, 
'  For  out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  mm*ders, 
adulteries,  fornications,  thefts,  false  witness,  blasphe- 


578 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1842. 


mies,'  Matt,  xv,  19.  '  Kever  was  a  stronger  and 
more  humbling  pictm-e  drawn  of  the  corruption  of 
human  nature.' — Watson.  Here  our  Lord  confirms 
the  testimony  of  Jeremiah  on  the  same  subject: 
'  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  ^11  things,  and  despe- 
rately wicked.  Who  can  know  it?'  And  that  of 
Solomon:  'The  heart  of  the  sons  of  men  is  full  of 
evil.' 

"  This  doctrine  has  been  confirmed  by  experience. 
Many  enlightened  Christians  have  testified,  that  be- 
fore their  hearts  were  made  new  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  while  they  were  under  conviction  for  sin,  evil 
feelings  existed  in  their  hearts,  which  they  earnestly 
tried  to  remove,  but  could  not.  That  while,  by  re- 
straining grace,  they  could  govern  their  outward 
conduct,  they  could  not  govern  their  hearts.  Pride, 
anger,  covetousness,  selfishness,  jealousy,  envy,  malice, 
hatred  to  an  enemy — wishing  him  evil,  &c.,  involun- 
tarily moved  and  troubled  their  souls.  By  the  help 
of  God,  then  afi'orded  them,  they  could  restrain  those 
evil  feelings  so  far  as  to  prevent  their  breaking  out 
into  violent  outward  actions,  but  they  could  not 
eradicate  them.  The  evil  was  in  their  hearts,  and 
every  one  felt  it  is  '  sin  that  dwelleth  in  me.'  Reason 
and  conscience  opposed  these  evils;  the  will,  the 
choice,  opposed  them.  The  man  really  wished  they 
were  dead,  but  still  they  were  there ;  and  he  cried 
out,  '  O  wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death  V 

"But  when  this  wretched  man  believed — that  is, 


1842.] 


NATURAL  ABILITY. 


579 


trusted  in  Christ  for  salvation — God,  his  Saviour, 
gave  him  a  new  heart;  a  heart  to  love  God,  and 
hate  sin;  a  power  against  sin;  a  power  to  govern 
himself,  and  to  do  the  will  of  God,  as  well  in  the 
exercises  of  his  heart  as  in  the  practices  of  his  life. 
This  work  in  his  heart  was  accompanied  with  a  wit- 
ness of  the  Spirit  that  it  was  indeed  the  work  of 
God,  and  that  neither  himself  nor  his  fellow-man 
could  have  done  it.  He  could  not  see  the  manner  of 
it ;  but  he  knew  the  work  was  done,  and  that  God 
did  it.  '  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou 
hearest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence 
it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth :  so  is  every  one  that 
is  born  of  the  Spirit.' 

"  Brethren,  we  needed  this  good  work  to  make  us 
Christians ;  we  must  walli  in  the  spirit  of  it  if  we 
would  continue  to  be  Christians.  Without  it  our 
ministry  will  be  but  a  dead  letter,  and  we  shall  be 
'  clouds  without  water,  carried  about  of  winds.'  But 
if  we  live,  preach,  pray,  administer  discipline,  and 
visit  our  flocks  in  this  spirit,  it  will  be  '  like  the  pre- 
cious ointment  upon  the  head,  that  ran  down  upon 
the  beard,  even  Aaron's  beard :  that  went  down  to 
the  skirts  of  his  garments ;  as  the  dew  of  Hermon, 
and  as  the  dew  that  descended  upon  the  mountains 
of  Zion :  for  there  the  Lord  commanded  the  blessing, 
even  life  for  evermore.' 

"  If  these  things  be  true — if  the  new  birth  be  the 
work  of  God,  and  not  of  man — what  can  we  think 
of  that  system  which  teaches  the  people  that  they 

25 


580  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1842. 

can  change  their  own  hearts — that  they  can  convert 
themselves?  What  can  we  think  of  those  operations 
called  revivals,  where  the  people  receive  this  doc- 
trine, and  believe  and  profess  that  they  have  changed 
their  own  hearts — that  they  have  converted  them- 
selves? There  is  reason  to  fear  that  multitudes  of 
them  are  deceived  ;  that  they  know^  nothing  of  trne 
religion ;  tliat  they  are  yet  '  in  the  gall  of  bitterness, 
and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity.' 

"  Those  who  teach  what  we  believe  to  be  a  false 
doctrine  with  regard  to  the  new  birth,  as  above 
named,  have  frequently  objected  to  a  practice  among 
us  of  exhorting  the  people  to  seek  God — to  seek  reli- 
gion— to  seek  salvation — to  pray  to  God  to  give  them 
new  hearts.  But  this  practice,  when  rightly  per- 
formed, is  in  perfect  accordance  with  the  teachings 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  It  is  certainly  proper  for 
men  to  seek  that  they  may  find  'Him  of  whom 
Moses,  in  the  law,  and  the  j^rophets,  did  w^ite.' 
Again ;  the  apostle  teaches,  '  that  they  should  seek 
the  Lord,  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  him,  and 
find  him,  though  he  be  not  far  from  every  one  of  us.' 
It  is  made  our  duty  to  seek,  and  pray,  and  look  to 
God,  that  he  may  do  for  us  what  we  are  unable  to 
do  for  ourselves.  We  cannot  change  our  own  hearts, 
but  we  can  pray  to  God  to  change  them.  We  cannot 
pardon  our  sins,  but  we  can  pray  to  God  for  pardon. 
We  cannot  create  the  spirit  of  Christianity  in  our 
own  hearts,  but  we  can  seek  for  it  in  the  way  God 
directs — by  faith — and  find  it.    Hence  we  are  com- 


1842.] 


GKEAT   FALL   OF  SXOW. 


581 


manded,  '  Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  jou ;  seek,  and 
ye  shall  find ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto 
yon.'  'But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God.' 
'  Come  unto  me — and  I  will  give  you  rest.'  '  Look 
unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth ; 
for  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  else.' " 

Tlie  retm-ns  this  year  still  indicate  the  wide-spread 
and  growing  prosperity  of  the  Church.  There  was 
an  increase  of  sixty  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
eighty-three  membei'S,  making  a  grand  total  of  nine 
hundred  and  thirteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and  one. 
The  number  of  travelling  preachers  was  four  thousand 
and  forty-four,  increase  one  hundred  and  seventy  nine ; 
number  of  local  preachers  ^even  thousand  one  hmi- 
dred  and  forty-four,  increase  seven  hundi-ed  and  fifty- 
one. 

For  the  benefit  of  his  health,  Bishop  Hedding  had 
_  removed  his  residence  from  Lansingburgh  to  Saratoga 
Springs ;  and  in  the  use  of  the  mineral  waters  of  this 
place  he  found  for  a  time  sensible  advantage. 

The  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1842-3  was  remark- 
able for  a  great  fall  of  snow,  which  for  a  time  stopped 
all  travelling.  The  engines  upon  the  railroad  could 
not  make  their  way  through  it,  and  the  highways 
were  completely  blocked  up.  Owing  to  the  extreme 
cold,  this  state  of  things  continued  for  several  weeks. 
In  the  meantime,  it  became  necessary  for  Bishop 
Hedding  to  leave  for  the  Philadelphia  Conference, 
Finding  there  was  no  immediate  prospect  of  a  pas- 
sage by  railroad  or  by  stage,  he  employed  a  vigor- 


582  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1842. 

ous  and  determined  man,  with  two  powerful  lior&es 
and  a  sleigli,  to  take  him  through  U)  Troj.  In  mak- 
ing this  passage  of  about  thirty  miles,  they  were 
sometimes  compelled  to  plough  through  snow-banks 
of  great  height ;  sometimes  they  got  around  them  by 
crossing  the  fields  or  passing  through  the  woods ;  and 
sometimes  they  found  the  snow  packed  hard  enough 
to  bear  up  the  horses.  The  driver  was  often  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  sleigh,  and  break  away  and  shovel 
out  the  snow  from  before  the  horses,  and  thus  work 
them  through  places  that  would  otherwise  have  been 
impassable.  The  cold  was  intense,  and  the  keen  north 
wind  whistled  and  roared  over  the  hills  and  throup:h 
the  trees,  often  filling  the  air  with  darkening  clouds  of 
snow.  Bishop  Hedding  was  no  man  to  turn  back ; 
and  in  spite  of  every  obstacle  the  distance  was  at 
length  accomplished,  to  the  astonishment  of  those 
who  knew  the  difiiculties  in  the  way. 

He  presided  this  year  over  the  Philadelphia  Con- 
ference, which  met  at  Philadelphia,  April  5th ;  the 
New-Jersey,  which  met  at  Trenton,  April  26th ;  the 
IS'ew-York,  at  ISTew-York,  May  17th ;  the  Providence, 
at  Warren,  June  7 th ;  the  New-England,  at  Boston, 
June  28th;  and  the  Maine,  at  Bath,  July  19th. 
Bishop  Morris  was  with  him  at  all  these  conferences, 
and  shared  in  the  labours  and  responsibilities  of  his 
work. 

•  "While  at  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  the  sad 
intelligence  of  the  death  of  Bishoj)  Roberts  was 
received.    At  the  request  of  the  conference,  he 


1843.] 


DEATH   OF   BISHOP  ROBERTS. 


583 


preached  a  sermon  on  the  occasion  from  Acts  xi,  24: 
"  For  he  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  of  faith :  and  much  people  was  added  nnto  the 
Lord."  Subsequently  the  same  discourse  was,  at  their 
reque=it,  delivered  before  the  ^sTew- Jersey,  I^ew-York, 
Providence,  and  Maine  Conferences.  Each  of  these 
conferences  passed  a  vote  requesting  its  publication  ; 
but,  owing  to  his  other  pressing  engagements,  he  did 
not  find  time  to  prepare  it  for  the  press. 

The  death  of  Bishop  Koberts  affected  him  deeply. 
They  were  mutually  and  strongly  attached  to  each 
other.  Bishop  Roberts  was  his  senior  in  age  by  two 
years,  but  his  junior  in  the  ministry  by  one  year. 
He  had  been  elected  to  the  episcopal  ofiice  in  1816, 
Bishop  Hedding  eight  years  later.  For  nineteen 
years  had  they  been  associated  together  in  the 
episcopate.  He  was  a  man  of  great  purity  of 
character,  of  great  simplicity  of  manners,  and  of 
unwavering  zeal  and  devotedness  in  the  cause  of 
his  Lord  and  Master.  We  need  not  say  more,  as  a 
well- written  memoir  of  his  useful  life  has  been  pr.e- 
pared  by  our  venerable  friend  and  associate.  Rev.  Dr. 
Elliott,  and  published  by  the  Western  Book  Concern 
in  a  neat  12mo.  volume  of  four  hundred  and  eight 
pages.  His  contemporaries  say  of  him  :  "  He  was  a 
faithful  and  unflinching  servant  of  the  Church,  who 
counted  not  his  own  life  dear  so  that  he  might  finish  his 
course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  he  had  received  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of 
God.    Bishop  Roberts  was  a  man  of  good  natural 


584  LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1843. 


parts,  and  lie  had  accumulated  a  rich  store  of  various 
knowledge.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  clear  and  forcible 
in  the  presentation  of  truth,  and  often  truly  eloquent. 
As  a  superintendent,  he  was  discriminating,  affable, 
kind,  and  conciliating,  yet  firm  and  decided.  He 
visited  the  Churches,  and  preached  the  gospel  of 
Christ  in  all  the  states  of  the  Union,  and  has  left  be- 
hind him  much  fruit  of  his  abundant  labours.  He 
was  able  to  attend  to  his  great  work  until  within  a  few 
weeks  previous  to  his  death.  He  died  as  he  had  lived, 
in  the  faith  of  Christ,  with  the  certain  hope  of  eternal 
life,  and  in  love  and  peace  with  all  mankind.  His 
sanctified  spirit  has  gone  home  to  God,  while  the 
earthly  tenement  awaits  in  the  grave  the  final  resur- 
rection of  the  just.  He  was  eminently  'a  good  man, 
and  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'  " 
"  Bishop  Hedding's  circuit  of  the  eastern  conferences, 
this  year,  afforded  him  great  satisfaction.  He  found 
both  preachers  and  people  gradually  recovering  from 
the  effects  of  the  agitations  and  excitements  that  had 
existed  among  them  during  several  previous  years. 
Peaceable  sessions  were  enjoyed  at  all  these  confer- 
ences, except  some  few  trial  cases  of  preachers  in- 
volved in  Millerism.  Several  preachers  withdrew 
from  the  connexion, — among  them  were  Orange 
Scott,  Lucius  C.  Matlack,  Cyrus  Prindle,  Shipley  W. 
Wilson,  and  others  who  had  been  prominent  in  the 
ultra-abolition  movement ;  but  these  withdrawals 
occasioned  little  excitement,  having  for  the  most 
part  taken  place  prior  to  the  sessions  of  their  respec- 


1843.]       CARE    OF   THE    MISSIONARY   WORK.  585 

tive  conferences.  Indeed  the  public  mind  was  pretty 
well  prepared  for  them,  as  such  a  result  had  been  re- 
garded as  not  only  probable,  but  almost  inevitable  for 
several  years.  It  is  gratifying  to  notice  that,  notwith- 
standing .these  withdrawals,  each  of  the  conferences 
reported  an  increase  of  members,  showing  that  the 
course  of  Methodism  was  yet  onward. 

As  he  returned  from  the  Maine  Conference,  he 
paid  a  visit  to  his  old  home  at  Lynn,  Massachusetts. 
From  this  place,  under  date  of  August  4th,  he  wrote 
to  Mrs.  Hedding:  "I  am  tarrying  here  a  few  days, 
visiting  among  our  old  friends.  I  am  yet  tired,  on 
account  of  the  labours  of  the  conferences.  I  feel  all 
the  time  as  though  I  wanted  to  lie  down  upon  the 
floor  and  go  to  sleep.  In  other  respects  my  health 
is  good.  This  poor  body  must  soon  fall  under  the 
tremendous  burdens  it  has  borne  for  forty-two  years ; 
but  the  unworthy  spirit  hopes  for  eternal  life  through 
the  boundless  mercy  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ  the 
Saviour." 

Later  in  the  season  lie  accompanied  Bishop  Waugh, 
who  was  at  that  time  in  poor  health,  to  Yates,  in 
Western  ISTew-York,  where  they  met  the  Genesee 
Conference  on  the  30th  of  August. 

During  this  year,  also,  he  had  great  responsibility 
and  great  care  with  reference  to  the  appointments 
for  the  foreign  missionary  work.  This  responsibility 
was  frequently  put  upon  him  ;  and  the  Missionary 
Board  at  New- York  always  found  him  a  wise  coun- 
sellor and  a  devoted  friend  to  the  cause,  giving  liber- 


586  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1844. 

ally  of  his  means,  and  being  unsparing  in  liis  exer- 
tions for  its  promotion. 

During  Xovember  of  this  year  he  removed  from 
Saratoga  to  Poughkeepsie,  being  a  place  more  eli- 
gibly located,  and  affording  him  greater  facilities  for 
his  work.  Here  he  continued  to  reside,  revered  and 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  till  he  finished  his 
earthly  career. 

The  year  had  been  one  of  unprecedented  pros- 
perity, so  far  as  the  ingathering  of  members  into  the 
Church  was  concerned.  A  membership  of  one  mil- 
lion sixty-eight  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty- 
five,  being  an  increase  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-four,  was  re- 
ported. The  whole  number  of  travelling  preachers 
was  four  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-six,  in- 
crease two  hundred  and  forty-two ;  whole  number 
of  local  preachers,  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
thirty,  increase  five  hundred  and  eighty-six. 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  Bishop  ITedding  assisted 
Bishop  Morris  at  the  Philadelphia  and  Kew- Jersey 
Conferences,  which  met  respectively  on  the  3d  and 
the  18th  of  April.  This  brings  us  to  the  General 
Conference  of  1844. 


1844.1  GENERAL   CONFERENCE.  -  687 


CHAPTER  XYin. 

SIXTH  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOUR. 

General  Conference  of  1844:  —  Representation  —  Slavery  Agitation  —  The 
Harding  Case — Case  of  Bishop  Andrew  —  Intensity  of  Feeling  excited 
—  Proposition  of  the  Bishops  to  suspend  Action  —  Objections  in  the 
Minds  of  Northern  Delegates  —  Bishop  Hedding  withdraws  his  Name  — 
Assigns  his  Reasons  —  Remarks  of  Bishops  Waugh  and  Morris  —  The 
Communication  laid  on  the  Table  —  Passage  of  Finley's  Resolution  — 
Eventual  Separation  of  the  Southern  Conferences  —  Resolution  relating 
to  Bishop  Hedding's  Labours  —  Election  and  Consecration  of  Bishops 
Hamline  and  Janes  —  Close  of  the  Session  —  Conference  Labours  — 
Changed  Views  of  Brethren  alienated  in  the  Abolition  Controversy  — 
Invitation  to  fix  his  Residence  again  in  New-England  —  Conference  La- 
bours in  1845  —  Death  of  three  Ministers  —  Action  of  the  Bishops  in 
Relation  to  giving  Bishop  Andrew  work  —  Bishop  Soule  calls  Bishop 
Andrew  out  —  His  Allusion  to  his  Colleagues  —  Southern  Organization 
completed — Bishops  Soule  and  Andrew  connected  with  it  —  Action  of 
the  Bishops  remaining  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  —  Conference 
Labours  in  1846  —  A  Scene  in  the  New- York  Conference  —  Church  Diffi- 
culties in  Relat  ion  to  John  N.  Mafiitt  —  Question  of  Jurisdiction  — Bishop 
Hedding's  Decision  —  Animadversions  upon  that  Decision  —  General 
Conference  approves  it  —  Church  Statistics  —  Spring  of  1847  —  New- 
England  Conference  —  Address  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Death  of  George 
Pickering  and  Joel  Steele  —  Further  Labours  —  Providence  Conference 
in  1848. 

The  General  Conference  of  1844  met  in  the  city  of 
New- York  on,  as  nsual,  tlie  first  day  of  May.  It  was 
composed  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  delegates,  rep- 
resenting thirty-three  annual  conferences,  as  fol- 
lows: — ITew-York,  eleven;  Providence,  four;  'New- 
England,  five  ;  Maine,  seven ;  New-Hampshire,  eight ; 
Troy,  seven;  Black  Eiver,  four;  Oneida,  seven; 
Genesee,  eight ;  Erie,  five ;  Pittsburgh,  seven ;  Ohio, 

25* 


588  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1844. 

eight ;  E'orth  Oliio,  five ;  Michigan,  four ;  Indiana, 
eight;  Rock  Kiver,  four;  Illinois,  five;  Missouri, 
four ;  Kentucky,  six ;  Holston,  three ;  Tennessee, 
four  ;  Memphis,  four  ;  Arkansas,  three  ;  Texas,  two  ; 
Mississippi,  four ;  Alabama,  four ;  Georgia,  six ; 
South  Carolina,  five  ;  ITorth  Carolina,  three ;  Vir- 
ginia, four ;  Baltimore,  ten ;  Philadelphia,  six,  and 
Kew-Jersey,  five.  Bishops  Soule,  Hedding,  Andrew, 
Waugh,  and  Morris,  were  present.  The  conference 
was  opened  by  Bishop  Soule,  who,  by  the  death  of 
Bishop  Roberts,  had  now  become  senior  bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

We  shall  detail  the  proceedings  of  this  General 
Conference  only  so  far  as  may  be  necessary  to 
present,  in  a  clear  light,  an-y  incidents  pertaining  to 
the  personal  history  or  illustrative  of  the  character 
of  the  subject  of  our  narrative.  Tlie  main  topic  in 
the  conference  at  the  beginning,  middle,  and  end,  was 
slavery  and  anti-slavery.  The  subject  came  before 
the  conference  in  a  new  form,  and  one  that  precluded 
the  possibility  of  evasion  or  postponement.  In  the 
first  place,  a  member  of  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
Rev.  F.  A.  Harding,  came  before  the  body  with  an 
appeal  from  his  conference,  which  had  suspended  him 
from  his  ministerial  standing  for  refusing  to  manumit 
certain  slaves  which  came  into  his  possession  by 
marriage.  The  case  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
General  Conference  three  or  four  days;  able  and 
eloquent  speeches  were  made  on  both  sides,  and  an 
unusual  interest  excited.    The  decision  was  in  favour 


1844] 


CASE    OF   BISHOP  ANDREW. 


589 


of  sustaining  the  action  of  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
by  k  vote  of  one  hundred  and  seventeen  to  fifty-six. 
This  decision  was  received  with  intense  gratification 
throughout  all  the  northern  portion  of  the  Church ;  but 
it  gave  great  umbrage  at  the  South,  where  the  preva- 
lent theory  was  that  the  holding  of  slaves  in  the  slave 
states  should  not  constitute  any  bar  or  impediment 
to  any  grade  of  ministerial  ofiice  in  the  Church. 

The  second  and  more  serious  aspect  in  which  the 
subject  came  before  the  body,  resulted  from  the 
connexion  of  one  of  the  bishops — the  Rev.  James 
O.  Andrew — with  slavery,  he  having  become  con- 
nected with  it  first  by  inheritance,  and  afterward  by 
marriage.  Tlie  revelation  of  these  facts  produced  a 
profound  and  painful  sensation.  In  other  instances, 
where  the  subject  of  slavery  or  anti-slavery  came 
before  this  or  preceding  General  Conferences,  there 
had  always  been  some  mode  by  which  the  matter 
could  be  adjusted  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  great 
body  of  the  conference  and  of  the  Church,  and  yet 
so  as  to  avoid  sectional  differences.  But  now  a 
distinct  issue  was  made  between  the  North  and 
the  South.  For  the  Korth  to  yield,  and  to  give  up 
the  principle  which  had  always  been  preserved 
inviolate  from  the  organization  of  the  Church, 
namely,  that  the  episcopacy  should  be  kept  free 
from  any  taint  of  slavery,  would  have  been  not 
only  disastrous  to  the  Church  in  all  the  free  states, 
but  also,  in  their  judgment,  an  unwarrantable  sacri- 
fice of  moral  principle.     On  the  other  hand,  the 


590  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1844. 

South,  though  thej  had  yielded  in  former  years  when 
only  the  election  of  men  to  the  episcopal  office  was 
concerned,  were  now  equally  strong  in  their  convic- 
tions that  for  them  to  yield  to  the  deposition  of  a 
bishop,  because  he  had  become  a  slaveholder,  would 
be  disastrous  to  the  Church  in  the  slaveholding 
states.  In  fact,  they  had  come  to  a  point  where 
they  must  either  boldly  assert,  or  forever  sm-render, 
the  principle  long  maintained  by  most  of  them,  that 
the  mere  fact  of  slaveholding  should  constitute  no 
impediment  to  any  official  station  in  the  Church. 

It  would  be  scarcely  possible  to  depict  the  inten- 
sity of  feeling  that  existed-  The  wisest  men  saw  the 
dark  cloud  gathering  over  the  prospects  of  a  united 
Church,  but  they  saw  no  way  to  avert  the  coming 
storm.  Prayer  and  fasting,  deep  and  earnest  con- 
sultation were  had,  and  yet  no  lighting  up  of  the 
dark  horizon  was  seen.  The  subject  had  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  General  Conference,  more  or 
less,  for  thirteen  sessions,  and  a  motion  was  pending, 
expressive  of  the  sense  of  that  body,  that  Bishop 
Andrew  should  desist  from  the  duties  of  his  office 
so  long  as  the  impediment  of  his  connexion  with 
slavery  remained.  The  previous  question  had  been 
moved,  but  failed  from  not  obtaining  a  two-thirds 
vote.  At  this  crisis  Bishop  Hedding,  who  was  in 
the  chair,  suggested  that  the  conference  intemiit 
its  usual  afternoon  session,  and  thus  allow  the  bishops 
time  to  consult  together,  with  the  hope  that  they 
might  be  able  to  present  a  plan  for  adjusting  the 


1844.]  PROPOSITION    OF   THE    BISHOPS.  591 

difficulties  with  wliich  they  were  environed.  "The 
suggestion,"  says  the  joui*nal  of  the  day,  "was 
received  with  general  and  great  cordiality ;  and,  on 
motion,  the  discussion  of  the  pending  resolution  was 
postponed  until  the  next  morning." 

The  day  following  Bishop  Waugh  presented  a 
communication  from  the  bishops,  stating  that  it  was 
their  most  deliberate  conviction  that  a  decision  of 
the  pending  question,  whether  affirmatively  or  nega- 
tively, under  existing  circumstances,  would  most 
extensively  disturb  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the 
Church;  they  therefore  unanimously  recommended 
the  postponement  of  further  action  in  the  case  of 
Bishop  Andi-ew  until  the  ensuing  General  Confer- 
ence. They  stated  tha't  such  a  disposition  of  the 
episcopal  work  could  be  made  as  to  employ  Bishop 
Andrew  in  those  portions  of  the  work  only  where 
his  connexion  with  slavery  would  be  no  deti*iment 
to  his  personal  acceptability  to  the  preachei*s  and 
people.  They  further  stated,  that  should  the  embar- 
rassments in  the  case  of  Bishop  Andrew  not  be 
removed  before  the  next  General  Conference,  that 
body,  constituted  as  it  would  be  of  delegates  fresh 
from  the  annual  conferences,  and  elected  after  all 
the  facts  were  known,  would  be  better  qualified  to 
adjudicate  the  case  wisely  and  discreetly.  And  it  is 
but  just  to  add,  that  the  bishops,  in  making  this  pro- 
position, felt  assured — perhaps  had  been  assured — 
that  all  impediments  in  the  way  of  Bishop  Andrew, 
growing  out  of  his  relation  to  slavery,  would  be 


592 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1844. 


speedily  removed  if  the  case  at  the  present  stage 
of  proceedings  could  be  dropped. 

But  in  the  minds  of  the  northern  delegates  there 
were  insuperable  difficulties  opjDosed  to  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  matter.  To  drop  their  proceedings  at 
the  present  stage,  and  without  any  pledge  from 
Bishop  Andrew  that  he  would  relieve  himself  from 
his  disability,  would  be  a  surrender  of  the  great 
principle  to  which  they  felt  conscience-bound, 
namely,  that  which  excluded  slaveholding  from 
the  episcopacy.  They  further  knew  that  the  ques- 
tion could  not  be  left  open,  and  become  a  subject 
of  exciting  discussion  and  controversy  among  the 
people  and  in  the  annual  conferences  for  the  next 
four  years,  without  immense  injury  to  the  Church. 
The  question  was  laid  over  from  Friday  morning  to 
Saturday  morning;  but  the  more  it  was  canvassed 
among  the  members,  the  more  strongly  did  the 
above  views  prevail. 

Bishop  Hedding,  as  well  as  some  of  the  other 
bishops,  had  signed  the  paper  as  a  dernier  resort,  and 
with  a  faint  hope  that  it  might  be  instrumental  in 
averting  the  impending  calamity  from  the  Chm*ch ; 
but  when  he  learned  the  feelings  and  views  of  the 
northern  delegates  with  reference  to  it,  and  the  oppo- 
sition that  would  be  made  to  its  passage,  he  became 
convinced  that  it  would  be  a  source  of  discord  rather 
than  a  minister  of  peace  in  the  Church.  Under  this 
conviction,  when  the  subject  came  up  the  next  morn- 
ing— ^having  first  privately  consulted  his  colleagues, 


1844.1 


LAID    ON   THE  TABLE. 


693 


and  finding  they  were  not  willing  to  withdraw  the 
paper — he  arose  and  addressed  the  conference,  with- 
drawing his  name  from  the  document.  He  said, 
"  he  had  not  been  argued  or  persuaded  into  signing 
it,  but  had  attached  his  name  of  his  own  free  will 
and  accord,  because  he  thought  it  would  be  a  peace- 
measure  ;  but  facts  had  come  to  his  knowledge  since 
which  led  him  to  believe  that  such  would  not  be  the 
case.  Again :  he  thought  it  would  be  adopted  with- 
out debate ;  but  he  was  convinced  now  that  it  would 
give  rise  to  much  discussion,  and  therefore  he  wished 
to  withdraw  his  name  from  the  paper  on  the  table." 

Bishops  Waugh,  Morris,  and  Soule  followed  with  a 
few  remarks.  Bishop  Waugh  stated  that  he  con- 
sidered the  proposed  measure  as  a  last  resort  to  pro- 
mote the  future  peace  of  the  Church ;  but  he  had  not 
been  very  sanguine  upon  the  subject,  and  if  it  failed 
he  "should  not  be  disappointed.  Bishop  Morris  said 
he  wished  his  name  to  stand  on  that  paper,  as  a  testi- 
mony that  he  had  done  what  he  could  to  preserve 
the  unity  and  peace  of  the  Church.  The  communi- 
cation of  the  bishops  was  subsequently  laid  upon  the 
table,  by  a  vote  of  ninety-five  to  eighty-four.  The 
pending  resolution  was  then  passed,  by  a  vote  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  to  sixty-eight.  Against  this 
action  the  southern  delegates  presented  their  solemn 
Protest,  which  was  entered  upon  the  journals  of  the 
conference.  Subsequently,  on  the  representations  of 
some  of  the  southern  delegates,  a  committee  of  nine 
was  appointed,  who  reported  a  Plan  of  Separation,  to 


594  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1844. 

take  effect  on  receiving  the  sanction  of  the  annual 
conferences,  if  the  southern  brethren  found  it  impos- 
sible to  retain  their  ecclesiastical  connection  with  us. 
The  final  result  was  the  dismemberment  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — after  the  lapse  of 
sixty  years  from  its  organization, — and  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Bishop  Soule  eventually  separated  himself  from 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  became  con- 
nected with  the  southern  organization.  By  this 
means  Bishop  Hedding  became  senior  bishop  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Before  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  General  Conference,  a  resolution  was 
passed,  in  view  of  his  infirm  health,  releasing  him 
from  the  perfoiTaance  of  any  more  labour  than  in 
his  own  judgment  he  should  be  able  to  perform. 

The  General  Conference  resolved  on  the  election 
of  two  additional  bishops.  On  the  third  ballot,  Kev. 
L.  L.  Hamline  and  Rev.  E.  S.  Janes  were  elected 
bishops — the  former  having  received  one  hundred 
and  two,  and  the  latter  ninety-nine  votes  out  of  one 
hundi'ed  and  seventy-seven,  the  whole  number  cast. 
They  were  solemnly  inducted  into  the  episcopal  office 
by  the  usual  services,  and  by  the  imposition  of  the 
hands  of  Bishops  Soule,  Hedding,  Waugh,  and  Mor- 
ris, on  the  10th  of  June. 

This  session  of  the  General  Conference  will  ever 
be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  memorable  in  the 
history  of  the  Church.  It  was  protracted  through 
the  unprecedented  period  of  forty  days, — much  of 


18-14.]  EECEPTIOX    IX    XEW-EXGLAXD.  595 

the  time  holding  two  sessions  each  day, — and  finally 
adjourned  a  little  after  midnight  on  the  eleventh  of 
June. 

After  the  close  of  the  General  Conference,  Bishop 
Hedding  resumed  his  labours  in  the  annual  confer- 
ences. He  met  the  Xew-York,  at  Brooklyn,  June 
13th;  the  Providence,  at  Xewport,  Rhode  Island, 
July  3d ;  the  Xew-England,  in  company  with  Bishop 
Janes,  at  Westfield,  July  24th ;  and  the  Maine,  at 
Bangor,  August  llth.  During  this  year  he  also 
visited  many  of  the  Chui-ches  in  different  sections, 
especially  in  his  old  field  of  labour ;  and  these  visits 
were  very  refreshing  to  his  own  soul.  On  this  epis- 
copal tour,  also,  he  was  greatly  rejoiced* to  witness 
the  gradual  healing  of  party  feeling,  and  the  restora- 
tion of  brotherly  afi'ection  among  many  who  had  be- 
come alienated  in  the  ultra-abolition  excitement.  He 
was  also  greatly  cheered  at  finding  the  Church  re- 
covering from  the  shock  occasioned  by  the  Millerite 
delusion  which  had  swept  over  the  land. 

Many  brethren  in  IN^ew-England  had  become  es- 
tranged in  their  feelings  from  himself,  because  they 
thought  he  leaned  too  much  toward  pro-slaveiyism 
in  his  efi'orts  to  save  the  Church  from  distraction  and 
dismemberment.  But  most  of  them  had  now  become 
convinced  of  the  wisdom  and  propriety  of  his  course ; 
and  many  of  them  had  the  magnanimity  to  express 
to  him  the  change  which  had  been  wrought  in  their 
views  and  feelings. 

We  have  already  noticed  his  removal  from  l^ew- 


596  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1845. 

England,  and  the  causes  of  it.  During  the  present 
year,  the  preachers  stationed  in  Boston  and  vicinity 
united  in  a  formal  request  for  him  to  return  and 
make  New-England  his  future  home.  Tliey  say  that, 
in  this  urgent  request,  they  but  "  express  the  senti- 
ments of  all  New-England  Methodists — both  preach- 
ers and  people."  These  manifestations  were  pecu- 
liarly grateful  to  the  feelings  of  Bishop  Hedding ; 
but  he  felt  that  it  was  too  late  in  life  for  him  to  think 
of  another  removal. 

In  the  spring  of  1845  he  assisted  Bishop  "Waugh 
at  the  session  of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  which 
commenced  on  the  twelfth  of  March.  He  also  met 
the  Troy  CJonference,  at  Schenectady,  May  Tth; 
assisted  Bishop  Waugh  at  the  New- York,  immedi- 
ately after;  the  Black  River,  at  Mexicoviile,  July 
9th ;  the  Oneida,  at  Utica,  July  30th;  and  the  Gen- 
esee, at  Buffalo,  August  20th. 

During  the  spring  of  this  year  he  was  deeply 
affected  by  the  death  of  three  ministers — with  two 
of  whom  he  had  been  long  and  intimately  acquainted. 
The  first  of  these  was  the  Bev.  James  Covel,  who 
died  while  the  Troy  Conference  was  in  session.  He 
had  been  pastor  of  the  State-street  Cliurch,  in  ^M— 
•  baityy^nd  in  that  church  Bishop  Hedding  preached 
his  funeral  sermon,  to  an  immense  audience,  from 
2  Tim.  iv,  6-8.  The  second  was  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Cochran,  at  whose  funeral  he  was  called  to  preach, 
in  Poughkeepsie,  a  few  days  after  the  occasion  just 
mentioned.    He  had  known  Mr.  Cochran  from  his 


1845.]  BISHOP   ANDREW'S    EELATION.  597 

youtli,  even  before  lie  was  a  preacher,  and  had  been 
intimately  acquainted  with  him  during  the  whole 
period  of  his  ministry,  which  commenced  only  three 
years  later  than  his  own.  Tlie  very  day  Mr.  Coch- 
ran's funeral  had  been  attended,  he  received  intelli- 
gence of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Merritt — an 
aged  and  excellent  minister,  and  a  long  and  well-tried 
friend  of  the  bishop.  His  language,  on  the  reception 
of  this  news,  was :  "  These  three  brethren  have  just 
gone  to  heaven.  Their  warfare  is  over.  I  must  fight 
a  little  longer.    Lord,  help  me  to  conquer!" 

Growing  out  of  the  relation  of  Bishop  Andrew  to 
the  system  of  slavery,  and  the  consequent  action  of 
the  General  Conference  in  his  case,  a  new  controversy 
had  sprung  up  in  the  Church.  Into  the  merits  of  that 
controversy — the  principles  involved,  or  its  final  re- 
sults— we  are  not  called  to  enter.  But  as  one  of  its 
incidents  has  occasioned  some  animadversion  upon 
the  action  of  the  bishops,  and  especially  upon  the 
action  of  Bishop  Hedding,  it  demands  of  us  a  passing 
notice. 

Immediately  after  the  action  of  the  General  Con- 
ference in  this  case.  Bishop  Andrew  returned  to  his 
home  in  the  south.  After  he  had  left  JSTew-York,  he 
addressed  a  note  to  Bishop  Soule,  assigning  the  rea- 
sons for  his  departure — stating  that  he  did  not  know 
whether  the  bishops  would  feel  authorized,  in  view 
of  the  action  of  the  General  Conference,  to  assign  him 
a  place  among  them  for  the  next  four  yeai-s.  This 
letter  contained  neither  a  request  nor  a  refusal  to  take 


598  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1845. 

his  regular  appointments.  In  this  state  of  affairs,  when 
the  bishops  came  to  meet  for  the  aiTangement  of  their 
episcopal  labom*  for  the  four  years,  a  difference  of 
opinion  was  found  to  exist  as  to  the  propriety  of 
assigning  to  Bishop  Andi'ew  his  appropriate  share  of 
episcopal  service.  The  majority  of  them  believed  that 
it  was  the  design  of  the  General  Conference  to  devolve 
on  him  the  responsibility  of  determining  whether,  in 
view  of  their  action,  he  would  "desist"  from  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  episcopal  office,  or  whether  he  would  not; 
and  therefore  they  did  not  feel  themselves  warranted 
in  calling  him  out.  Under  this  view.  Bishops  Red- 
ding, Waugh,  Morris,  and  Hamhne  appended  their 
names  to  the  following  document:  "  It  is  our  opinion, 
in  regard  to  the  action  of  the  late  General  Conference 
in  the  case  of  Bishop  Andi'ew,  that  it  was  designed 
by  that  body  to  devolve  the  responsibility  of  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  functions  of  his  office  exclusively  on 
himself.  In  the  absence  of  Bfshop  Andrew  at  the 
time  of  arranging  the  Plan  of  Episcoj)al  Visitation 
for  the  ensuing  four  years,  and  he  not  having  notified 
us  of  his  desire  or  purpose  with  respect  to  it,  we 
should  regard  ourselves  as  acting  in  contravention  of 
the  expressed  will  of  the  General  Conference  if  wo 
apportioned  to  BishojD  Andrew  any  definite  portion 
thereof.  But  if  he  shaU  hereafter  make  a  written 
apphcation  for  a  portion  of  the  general  oversight,  we 
should  feel  ourselves  justified  in  assigning  it  to  him." 

In  consequence  of  this,  the  name  of  Bishop  An- 
drew was  left  out  of  the  regular  Plan  of  Episcopal 


1815.]  BISHOPS    SOIJLE   AND   ANDREW.  599 

Yisitation  for  the  ensuing  four  years.  The  bishops, 
however,  took  the  precaution  to  prepare  a  second  plan, 
including  his  name,  which  was  to  take  effect  upon 
Bishop  Andrew's  making  a  "  written  application"  for 
his  portion  of  the  episcopal  oversight.  The  object  of 
this  was  to  leave  the  responsibility  of  determining  the 
question  precisely  where  the  General  Conference  had 
placed  it.  Tliey  also  provided  that  should  such  "  writ- 
ten application"  be  made,  the  senior  bishop  might 
cause  the  second  plan  to  be  published  in  connexion 
with  such  application,  that  the  reason  for  the  sub- 
stitution of  the  second  plan  might  accompany  its 
publication.  This  action  was  eminently  wise  and 
prudential. 

Thus  matters  stood,  when  Bishop  Soule,  in  the 
fall  of  1844,  on  h^s  individual  responsibility,  called 
out  Bishop  Andrew,  by  inviting  him  to  accompany 
him  in  his  tour  of  the  southern  conferences,  and  assist 
him  in  his  episcopal  work.  In  his  letter  to  Bishop 
Andrew,  Bishop  Soule  holds  forth  the  following  lan- 
guage :  "  It  has  often  been  asked,  through  the  public 
journals  and  otherwise,  why  Bishop  Andrew  was  not 
assigned  his  regular  portion  of  the  episcopal  work  for 
the  ensuing  four  years,  on  the  Plan  of  Yisitation 
formed  by  the  bishops,  and  published  in  the  official 
papers.  It  deiiol/oes  on  the  majority  of  my  colleagues 
m  the  episcopacy^  (if,  indeed,  we  have  any  episcopacy,) 
rather  tha/n  on  me^  to  answer  this  question^ 

This  statement  elicited  inquiries  through  the  public 
journals,  "Will  the  bishops  explain?"    It  also  pro- 


600 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1845. 


voked  not  a  little  animadversion.  These  inquiries, 
as  well  as  a  subsequent  communication  from  Bishop 
Soule,  elicited  from  Bishops  Hedding,  Waugh,  Morris, 
and  Hamline  a  plain  statement  of  the  case  as  we  have 
given  it.  At  first  a  few  extremists  demurred  at  this 
action ;  but  it  was  so  manifestly  in  accordance  with 
the  design  and  action  of  the  General  Conference,  that 
the  sober  judgment  of  all  intelligent  men  soon  came 
to  approve  of  it ;  and,  at  the  present  dav,  a  plain 
statement  of  the  facts  is  all  the  vindication  their  action 
demands. 

During  the  year  1845,  the  Convention  of  Delegates 
from  the  conferences  in  the  slaveholding  states  was 
held  in  Louisville,  Ky.  That  convention  organized 
the  annual  conferences  in  the  slaveholding  states 
"  into  a  distinct  ecclesiastical  connexion,  separate 
from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,"  and  solemnly  declared  that  such  jurisdic- 
tion was  now  "  entirely  dissolved^  They  also  decreed 
that  the  "separate  ecclesiastical  organization"  should 
"be  known  by  the  style  and  title  of  the  Methodist 
Ejnscojpal  Church,  SouthP  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  five  bishops  remaining  in  tlie  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  at  a  regular  meeting,  came  to  the 
unanimous  conclusion  that  they  would  not  be  justified 
in  presiding  in  any  of  the  conferences  thus  separated 
from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Thenceforward  their  action  was  conform- 
able to  this  resolution. 

It  may  be  well,  in  this  connection,  to  place  upon 


1845.]     DIVISION   OF   THE   BOOK   CONCERN.  601 

record  the  judgment  of  Bisliop  Hedding  in  the  mat- 
ter of  dividing  the  capital  of  the  Book  Concern  with 
the  Southern  organization.  In  a  letter  addressed  to 
Bishop  Hamline,  under  date  of  December  8th,  184:7, 
he  says :  "  I  am  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  the 
General  Conference  has  no  constitutional  authority 
to  yield  to  the  claims  of  the  South,  and  set  off  to 
them  a  portion  of  our  book  interest.  The  General 
Conference,  without  the  concurrent  act  of  the  annual 
conferences,  cannot  set  off  part  of  the  'produce,' 
much  less  part  of  the  stock  of  the  Book  Concern. 
To  do  either  the  one  or  the  other  would  be  a  direct 
violation  of  the  constitution,  and  would  forfeit  all 
confidence  of  the  Church  in  the  wisdom  of  that  body. 
If  anything  is  done  in  future,  in  relation  to  a  division 
of  the  Book  Concern,  it  must  be  by  a  vote  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  General  Conference,  and  of  three-fourths 
of  all  the  votes  in  the  annual  conferences,  taken  in 
the  aggregate.  Whether  such  a  vote  of  the  General 
Conference  and  of  the  annual  conferences,  directly 
on  the  question  of  the  division  of  the  Book  Concern, 
would  be  constitutional  or  not,  is  a  matter  of  differ- 
ence of  opinion.  On  that  question  I  am  not  prepared 
to  give  an  opinion.  I  can  see  but  one  constitutional 
way  in  which  anything  can  be  done  on  that  subject; 
that  is,  for  the  next  General  Conference  to  pass  a 
two-third  vote  recommending  to  the  annual  con- 
ferences to  concur  in  suspending  the  sixth  restriction, 
for  one  object  and  only  one;  that  is,  to  give  the 
General  Conference  authority  to  give  the  Church 


602  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF    HEDDING.  [1846. 

South  a  given  portion  of  the  Book  Concern ;  then,  if 
the  constitutional  votes  can  be  obtained  in  the  annual 
conferences,  the  succeeding  General  Conference  may- 
set  off  a  portion." 

In  1846  Bishop  Hedding  attended  the  following 
conferences, namely:  Baltimore,  at  Baltimore,  March 
11th ;  Philadelphia,  at  Philadelphia,  April  1st ;  New- 
Jersey,  at  ISTewark,  April  22d ;  N^ew-York,  at  IsTew- 
York,  Ma  J  13tli ;  and  also  the  Oneida  and  Genesee, 
in  company  with  Bishop  Janes,  the  former  at  Au- 
burn, July  22d,  and  the  latter  at  Lyons,  Sep- 
tember 2d. 

The  session  of  the  IS'ew-York  Conference,  this 
year,  was  one  of  extraordinary  labour,  as  well  as  of 
extraordinary  length — being  continued  fifteen  days. 
A  very  unusual  number  of  trials  occurred;  and  there 
was  also  unusual  difficulty  in  fixing  the  stations  of 
the  preachei-s.  There  were  so  many  special  applica- 
tions, so  many  committees,  so  many  petitions,  and  so 
many  remonstrances — that  the  bishop  began  to  fear 
that  it  was  impossible  to  give  general  satisfaction  in 
the  appointments.  When  he  came  to  the  close  of 
the  conference,  when  the  church  was  crowded  with 
the  members  of  the  conference  and  of  the  Churches 
in  the  city,  the  bishop  stated  to  them  the  difficulties 
he  had  experienced  in  making  the  appointments  ;  he 
also  expressed  his  apprehension  that  they  would  not 
all  be  satisfactory  to  either  preachers  or  people  ;  but 
he  had  done  the  best  he  could.  He  then  expatiated 
upon  the  importance  of  the  itinerancy,  the  honour 


1846.]  A   CLOSING   CONFERENCE   SCENE.  603 

God  had  put  upon  it  in  making  it  instrumental  in 
building  up  and  extending  the  Church,  and  in  saving 
the  souls  of  men:  "in  saving  our  souls,"  exclaimed 
he.  "  Shall  this  itinerancy  be  sustained  ?"  he  then 
inquired.  An  earnest  aflBrmative  response  came  up 
from  both  preachers  and  people.  He  then  briefly 
alluded  to  the  indispensable  elements  of  an  efiective 
itinerancy,  and  the  spirit  that  must  animate  both 
preachers  and  people  where  it  is  maintained.  "  And 
now,  brethren,"  said  he,  addressing  himself  to  the 
membei-s  of  the  conference,  "  you  who  want  to  pre- 
serve our  itinerancy,  and  will  receive  your  appoint- 
ments and  go  to  them  as  true  itinerant  Methodist 
preachers,  and  labour  for  the  salvation  of  the  souls 
of  men — rise  'wj9."  Instantly  the  whole  conference 
were  on  their  feet.  Tlien,  turning  to  the  great  body 
of  laymen  who  were  present,  he  said:  "You  who 
want  to  keep  up  this  itinerancy  in  the  Church  and 
will  receive  your  preachers  and  try  to  labour  in  love 
and  fellowship  with  them,  say,  Amen.'^''  One  hearty 
and  prolonged  Ameri)''  arose  from  every  part  of  the 
vast  assembly.  "Now,"  continued  the  bishop,  "I 
hope  the  preachers  will  be  a  great  blessing  to  you 
and  to  sinners  in  your  congregations;  and  that 
you  will  love  and  pray  for  them,  and  cooperate  with 
them  with  all  your  hearts."  The  appointments  were 
then  announced,  and  the  assembly  dismissed.  As  we 
retired  from  the  house  we  heard  a  gentleman,  who 
had  been  drawn  into  the  assembly  from  curiosity,  say 
to  his  friend :  "  Was  n't  that  a  grand  stroke  of  gene- 


604  LIFE    A^'D   TIMES    OF    ^EDDI^'G.  [1846. 

ralship  V'  The  moral  influence  of  that  scene,  we  are 
certain,  will  not  soon  be  lost  from  the  minds  of  many 
— both  preachers  and  people — who  witnessed  it. 

During  the  fall  of  this  year,  and  the  winter  of 
1846-7,  Bishop  Hedding  was  called  to  give  an  official 
decision  in  the  celebrated  trial  case,  or  rather  at- 
tempted trial  case,  of  the  Rev.  John  Xewland  Maffitt. 
For  some  years  there  had  been  reports  prejudicial  to 
the  Christian  and  ministerial  character  of  Mr.  Maffitt, 
in  the  city  of  Xew-Tork  and  vicinity ;  but  as  he  was 
in  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  and  was  ti-avelling 
from  place  to  place,  no  opportunity  for  investigation 
had  occurred.  In  the  fall  of  1846  Mr.  Maffitt  came 
to  the  city,  bearing  a  regular  certificate  of  his  rela- 
tion to  the  Church  as  a  local  elder,  and  on  the  strength 
of  that  became  connected  with  one  of  the  city 
charges.  Learning  these  facts,  the  preachers'  meet- 
ing appointed  three  of  their  number  as  a  committee 
to  have  the  reports  investigated.  Tlie  committee 
found  occasion  to  prefer  charges  of  immoral  and  un- 
christian conduct  against  Mr.  Maffitt,  and  notified 
his  pastor  of  the  existence  of  such  charges.  Subse- 
quently Mr.  Maffitt  obtained  certain  papers  from  his 
pastor,  and  continued  to  evade  the  trial  of  the  com- 
plaint against  him,  on  the  ground  that  jurisdiction 
where  he  first  joined  had  ceased.  This  state  of 
things  continued  till  the  17th  of  December,  when 
he  was  received,  on  the  strength  of  the  papers 
in  his  possession,  as  a  local  elder  in  the  Centenary 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Brooklyn,  by  the  Eev. 


1846.1 


THE   MAFFITT  CASE. 


605 


John  C.  Green,  pastor  of  the  Church.  Mr.  Green 
proposed  to  have  an  investigation  of  the  reports 
against  Mr.  Maffitt  in  his  charge,  and  so  notified  the 
committee  who  had  been  appointed  to  prefer  charges 
against  him,  and  others  interested  in  the  case.  The 
committee,  beheving  that  Mr.  Green  had  received 
Mr.  Maffitt  on  insufficient  authority,  and  therefore 
had  no  jurisdiction  in  the  case ;  and  also  fearing  that 
a  fair,  full,  and  impartial  trial  before  a  proper  com- 
mittee would  not  be  had  under  such  circumstances, 
declined  appearing  in  the  proposed  trial,  but  ap- 
pealed to  Bishop  Hedding  to  stay  proceedings  in  the 
case,  and  to  determine  the  question  of  jurisdiction. 

Bishop  Hedding  first  wrote  an  advisory  letter  to 
Mr.  Green,  but  was  soon  authentically  apprized  that 
he  still  persisted  in  trying  the  case.  Whereupon 
he  wrote  a  mandatory  letter,  as  follows :  "  I  request 
you  to  stay  all  proceedings  in  his  [Maffitt's]  case, 
until  the  question  of  jurisdiction  is  legally  settled." 
At  his  earliest  convenience.  Bishop  Hedding  had  an 
interview  with  the  parties,  and  investigated  the  facts 
in  the  case.  After  describing  the  certificate  upon 
which  Mr.  Maffitt  was  received  into  the  Asbury 
Church  by  Rev.  S.  Martindale,  the  pastor,  and 
showing  its  sufficiency,  he  proceeds  to  discuss  the 
question  of  present  jurisdiction,  as  follows : — 

"  On  the  application  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Maffitt,  by 
a  friend,  Rev.  Mr.  Martindale  returned  to  him  the 
before-described  certificate,  having  written  upon  it 
the  following  words : — '  Correct.    S.  Martindale.' 


606  LIFE    AXD   TIMES   OF   HEDDIXG.  [1846. 

This  was  one  of  the  papers  on  which  Mr.  Green 
admitted  Mr.  Maffitt  to  membership  in  the  Cen- 
tenary Methodist  Episcopal  Chm*ch,  Brooklyn. 

"  This  certificate,  when  it  had  procured  Mr. 
Maffitt's  membership  as  a  local  elder  in  the  Asbury 
Methodist  Episcopal  Chm-ch,  N.  Y.,  was  of  no  further 
authority  or  use.  What  Mr.  Martindale  has  written 
upon  the  certificate  does  not  renew  its  authority, 
for  it  is  without  date,  and  is  not  signed  as  preacher 
in  charge,  and  does  not  assert  any  of  the  facts  neces- 
sary to  show  that  Mr.  Maffitt  was  a  local  elder  in 
the  church  of  which  Mr.  Martindale  had  charge,  con- 
sequently was  still  of  no  autliority  after  he  had  written 
those  words  upon  it,  and  could  not  dismiss  Mr.  Maffitt 
from  the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Kew- 
York,  or  give  him  membei'ship  elsewhere. 

"  The  next  paper  upon  which  Mr.  Green  received 
Mr.  Maffitt  was  the  following: — 

"  '  This  is  to  certify  that  the  Eev.  John  K  Maffitt, 
a  local  eMer  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  has 
spent  several  weeks  with  me  in  my  station  in  the 
city  of  ]N'ew-York,  having  placed  in  my  hands  a 
regular  certificate  of  his  good  standing  in  Aubm-n, 
in  this  state,  as  a  local  elder  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  During  his  stay  with  me  he  has 
laboured  with  great  acceptance  and  usefulness. 

(Signed)  S.  Maetixdale,  Pastor.' 

"  This  paper  asserts  that  Mr.  Maffitt  was  a  local 
elder  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  that  he 


1846.] 


THE   BISHOP'S  DECISION. 


607 


was  in  good  standing  in  Aubnm,  as  proved  by  his 
certificate,  and  had  laboured  several  weeks  in  the 
Asburj  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,'  IS'ew-York, 
with  great  acceptance  and  usefulness ;  but  does  not 
assert  his  membership  as  a  local  elder  in  the  Asbuiy 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  or  his  official  standing 
in  that  Chm*ch  at  the  time  it  was  given,  and  is  with- 
out date,  and  therefore  was  incompetent  to  dismiss 
him  from  the  Asbuiy  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
or  give  him  membership  elsewhere. 

"  Another  paper,  presented  bj  Mr.  Green,  as  part 
of  the  authority  upon  which  he  received  Mr.  Maffitt, 
is  the  following : — - 

"  ^  I  certify  that  I  have  taken  the  name  of  Eev. 
John  !N".  Maffitt  from  the  church  books  of  the  Nor- 
folk-street Methodist  Episcopal  Chm-ch,  of  which 
I  am  pastor,  and  claim  no  jurisdiction  over  him. 

(Signed)  "  '  S.  Maettndale.' 

♦« '  December  16,  1816.' 

"  This  paper  has  none  of  the  properties  of  a  dis- 
ciplinary certificate :  it  only  proves  that  Mr.  Martin- 
dale  had  once  received  Mr.  Maffitt,  and  that  his 
name  had  once  been  upon  the  church  books  of 
the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Another 
paper,  on  which  Mr.  Green  reHed  for  authority  in 
the  case,  was  the  following : — 

" '  This  is  to  certify  that  I  called  on  Rev.  S.  Mar- 
tindale  with  a  certificate  of  membership  of  the  Rev. 
J.  i^.  Maffitt,  signed  by  the  presiding  elder,  by  order 


608  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1846. 

of  the  Auburn  Quarterly-Meeting  Conference,  on  the 

 day  of  November,  1846,  in  order  that  brother 

Maffitt  should  unite  himself  with  the  Asbury  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  in  ]^orfolk-street,  and  that 
brother  Martindale  received  said  certificate,  and 
said  that  would  do,  and  directed  me  to  keep  it,  and 
put  brother  Maffitt's  name  on  my  class-book.  About 
two  weeks  after,  I  called  on  brother  Martindale,  by 
request  of  brother  Maffitt,  to  ask  for  his  certificate 
of  membership,  as  he  wished  to  change  his  relation 
from  JS'orfolk-street  to  some  other  charge.  He,  '  said 
Martindale,'  asked  me  for  the  Auburn  certificate. 
I  gave  it  him,  and  he  wrote  on  it  '  correct,'  and 
signed  his  name,  then  gave  it  to  me  for  brother 
Maffitt,  saying  he  was  now  at  liberty  to  go  where 
he  pleased,  as  he  was  no  member  there,  and  could 
join  anywhere. 

(Signed)  "  '  Heney  E.  Piekct.' 

"  This  paper,  also,  in  the  first  place,  goes  to  prove 
that  Mr.  Maffitt  joined  the  Asbury  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  I^ew-York.  It  does  not  show  that 
Mr.  Maffitt  was  dismissed  with  a  disciplinary  cer- 
tificate. Besides,  such  testimony  is  of  no  authority, 
except  when  great  distance,  or  some  uncontrollable 
circumstance  renders  it  impracticable  to  obtain  a 
disciplinary  certificate  from  the  proper  authority  of 
the  Church. 

"  Further,  all  these  papers  upon  which  Mr.  Maffitt's 
transfer  from  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


1846.] 


FINALE 


OF   THE  MATTER. 


609 


to  Centenary  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Brooklyn, 
is  claimed,  were  given  after  the  preacher  furnish- 
ing them  was  informed  that  charges  existed  against 
Mr.  Mafiitt. 

"  After  being  requested,  as  above  stated,  '  to  inter- 
fere in  the  case  with'  my  'official  authority,'  it 
being  inconvenient  for  me  at  the  time  to  attend  to 
the  business,  I  transferred  it  to  Bishops  Hamline  and 
Janes,  as  they  were  then  in  this  city;  but  they 
refeiTed  it  back  to  me — the  business  thus  devolving 
on  me.  ISTow,  therefore,  it  becomes  my  duty  to 
say,  it  is  my  judgment  that,  according  to  the  rules 
and  usages  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the 
Kev.  John  K.  Maffitt  is  a  local  elder  in  the  Asbury 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  JSTorfolk-street,  IS'ew- 
York,  and,  consequently,  that  he  cannot  now  be  a 
local  elder  in  the  Centenary  Church,  Brooklyn. 

"  Eluah  Hedding." 

"  New-York,  February  1847." 

To  this  decision  Bishop  Janes  appended  the  fol- 
lowing note : — 

"  I  concur  in  the  opinions  of  Bishop  Hedding,  as 
expressed  in  the  foregoing  document. 

"  Edmund  S.  Janes." 

New-York,  February  ith,  1847." 

The  finale  of  the  matter,  if  our  recollection  serves 
us,  was,  that  by  episcopal  authority  Mr.  Maffitt  was 
left  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Kev.  S.  Martindale, 
and  amenable  to  that  quarterly  conference  as  a  local 


610  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1846. 

elder;  but  as  he  persisted  in  repudiating  said  juris- 
diction and  amenability,  the  presiding  elder  of  the 
Kew-York  District  declared  him  withdrawn  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  decision  of  Bishop  Hedding  in  this  case  was  com- 
mented upon  with  great  severity  by  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Maffitt.  They  regarded  it  as  a  usurpation  of  episco- 
pal authority.  The  case  was  discussed  in  such  a  form 
in  one  of  the  public  journals  of  the  day,  that,  at  the 
ensuing  General  Conference,  Bishops  Hedding  and 
Janes  expressed  the  wish  that  it  might  be  referred 
to  the  Committee  on  Episcopacy.  Accordingly  the 
reference  was  made.  Tlie  committee,  after  investi- 
gating the  case,  reported, — 

"  1.  Tliat  in  the  judgment  of  the  committee,  in  the 
decision  of  Bishops  Hedding  and  Janes,  in  the  case 
of  J.  N.  Mafiitt,  in  determining  the  place  of  his  mem- 
bership, they  acted  entirely  within  the  limits  of  their 
episcopal  jurisdiction,  and  in  perfect  accordance  with 
the  discipline  and  usages  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

"  2.  That  the  circumstances  in  that  case  w^ere  such 
as  fully  to  justify  and  require  their  authoritative  in- 
terference." 

The  report  in  the  case  was  adopted  with  great 
unanimity. 

The  reaction  after  the  Millerite  excitement  was 
unfavourable  to  the  growth  of  the  Church  as  to  any 
increase  of  members.  At  the  close  of  1845,  while  yet 
the  southern  conferences  were  included  in  the  returns, 


1847.]  DECREASE   OF   MEMBERSHIP.  611 

it  was  found  that  there  was  a  decrease  of  thirty-one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixtj-nine  in  the  mem- 
bership. The  membership  of  the  Church  then  was 
one  million  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  thousand 
five  hundred  and  eighty-seven ;  ministers,  four  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  twenty-eight ;  local  preachers, 
eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  one.  At  the  close 
of  the  present  year  there  was  a  further  decrease  of 
twelve  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-three  re- 
ported. Tlie  southern  conferences  having  now  with- 
drawn, the  statistics  for  the  year  were — membei*s,  six 
hundred  and  forty-four  thousand  two  hundred  and 
ninety-nine ;  ministers,  three  thousand  five  hundred 
and  eighty-two;  and  local  preachers,  four  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  thirty-five. 

About  the  last  of  February,  in  1847,  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  left  home  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Bishops  in  Philadelphia.  It  had  been  his  intention 
afterward  to  be  present  at  the  session  of  the  Baltimore 
Conference;  but  his  health  was  so  very  feeble  that  he 
relinquished  the  idea,  and,  after  resting  a  few  weeks 
in  Philadelphia,  he  returned  home.  He,  however, 
met  the  Providence  Conference  at  Fall  Piver,  April 
1st;  and  the  is'ew-England,  at  Lynn,  April  28th. 
His  visit  to  the  latter  conference  was  made  solemn  to 
him  by  the  death  of  two  of  the  old  veterans  of  the 
cross — George  Pickering  and  Joel  Steele.  The  for- 
mer, at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  oldest  eff'ective 
minister  in  the  connexion.  Bishop  Hedding  improved 
the  occasion  by  an  address  to  the  conference,  at  its 

26* 


612  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1847. 

special  request.  While  speaking  of  the  high  Christian 
and  ministerial  character  of  the  dead,  his  sensibilities 
were  intensely  aroused.  At  one  time  his  thoughts 
turned  upon  himself  and  his  approaching  change; 
then  he  said,  with  much  feeling,  and  with  powerful 
effect:  "Brethren,  I  know  I  may  be  the  next  to  go. 
At  all  events  I  must  go  soon ;  and  in  view  of  it  I  turn 
to  my  own  heart  and  life,  and  discover  so  much  fi-ailty, 
and  so  many  infirmities,  that  I  repeat  the  words  of  the 
poet  with  deep  feeling : — ■ 

*  And  can  it  be,  thou  heavenly  King, 
That  thou  should'st  me  to  glory  bring? 
Make  me  the  partner  of  thy  throne, 
Deck'd  with  a  never-fading  crown  ?' 

And  then  placing  his  hands  upon  his  hoary  head,  he 
exclaimed,  "O  that  crown!  Shall  /  ever  wear  it? 
But  I  remember  again  it  is  written,  '  This  is  a  faithful 
saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I 
am  chief,'  then  I  cling  to  the  atonement,  and  count 
all  my  sufferings  and  privations  as  but  drops;  and 
could  there  be  such  a  thing  as  commencing  life  again, 
with  present  experience,  I  would  be  an  itinerant 
preacher.  I  have  no  feai^  of  being  lost.  Once  I  was 
in  bondage  unto  fear.  -Before  my  convei^sion  I  suf- 
fered profound  agony  in  anticipating  the  wrath  of 
God  against  my  sins;  but  I  have  been  saved.  Breth- 
ren, I  do  not  believe  I  shall  go  to  hell — Christ  has 
rescued  me !"  The  address  throughout  was  exceed- 
ingly affecting,  and  made  a  profound  impression." 

^  Report  in  Zion's  Herald. 


1847.]     CLOSE  OF  THE  SIXTH  QUADBENNIAL.  613 

He  also  attended  the  JSTew-Hampshire  Conference, 
which  met  at  Xorthfield,  May  19th ;  the  Yermont,  at 
Irasburg,  June  9th ;  and  the  Maine,  at  Saco,  June 
30th.  After  making  this  tour  of  the  Xew-England 
Conferences,  he  says :  "  I  find  but  here  and  there  an 
old  preacher,  who  was  here  when  I  travelled  in  this 
country.  Most  of  them  have  ceased  from  their  la- 
bours. And  why  am  I  spared?  I  feel  that  I  am 
under  deep  obligations  to  Providence  and  grace  for 
the  numerous  mercies  that  have  crowned  my  poor  life. 
O  that  I  may  be  thankful,  and  improve  the  privileges 
of  my  few  remaining  days  to  the  salvation  of  my  soul 
and  to  God's  glory." 

In  the  spring  of  1848  Bishop  Hedding  met  the 
Providence  Conference  at  Xew-London,  April  5th; 
and  soon  after  left  for  the  General  Conference,  which 
was  to  assemble  on  the  1st  of  May,  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburgh. 


614  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1848. 


CHAPTEE  XIX. 

SEVENTH  QUADRENNIAL  OF  EPISCOPAL  LABOURS. 

General  Conference  of  1848  —  Bishop  Hedding  requested  to  prepare  some 
Biographical  Sketch  of  himself — His  Views  on  the  Pastorship  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  —  Appointed  Delegate  to  the  British  Wes- 
leyan  Conference  —  Feeble  Health — Rev.  Manning  Force  accompanies 
him  —  Revives  an  Acquaintance  with  an  old  Friend  —  Sermon  before  the 
Xew-Hampshire  Conference  —  Visit  on  part  of  an  old  Circuit  —  Vermont 
Conference  at  BaiTC  —  Maine  and  East  Maine  Conferences  —  Conferences 
in  184:9  —  The  old  Cambridge  Circuit— The  Bishop's  Notes  of  Travel,  &c. 

—  A  strong  Christian — His  singular  Death  —  Sunday  Labours — Attends 
the  Funeral  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Merrill  —  Sick  —  First  failure  in  Twenty-five 
Years  to  meet  his  Conferences  —  Travels  in  1850  —  Remarks  upon  his 
Notes  of  Travel  —  Views  about  Preaching  — Comparison  of  Methodism 
with  the  Foi-mer  Time — Zeal  of  the  Early  Methodists  —  Class-meetings 

—  Novel  case  of  proving  the  Mind  —  Compliment  to  a  Sermon  —  Success 
of  Methodist  Agencies. 

The  General  Conference  of  1848  assembled  in  the 
citj  of  Pittsburgh,  on  the  first  day  of  May.  Bishops 
Hedding,  Waiigh,  Morris,  Hamline,  and  Janes  were 
present.  The  conference  was  composed  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-one  delegates,  representing  twenty- 
three  annual  conferences.  Among  these  conferences 
the  representation  was  as  follows: — Baltimore,  eleven; 
Philadelphia,  seven ;  Xew-Jersey,  seven ;  Provi- 
dence, five  ;  Xew-England,  six ;  Xew-York,  thirteen  ; 
Xew-Hampshire,  fom* ;  Troy,  eight ;  Vermont,  three  ; 
Black  River,  five ;  Pittsburgh,  8 ;  Oneida,  eight ; 
Maine,  eight ;  Erie,  six ;  Rock  River,  five ;  Xorth 
Ohio,  six ;  Genesee,  nine ;   Ohio,  ten ;  Iowa,  two  ; 


1848.J 


THE    GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 


615 


North  Indiana,  five ;  Michigan,  five ;  Illinois,  five ; 
and  Indiana,  five. 

Bishop  Hedding  opened  the  conference  by  read- 
ing a  lesson  from  the  Scriptures.  An  appropriate  • 
hymn  was  then  sung ;  after  which.  Bishops  Waugh 
and  Morris  led  in  prayer.  The  bishops  presented 
no  formal  address  at  the  opening  of  the  conference, 
but  at  difi*erent  stages  of  its  progress  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  body  such  matters  as  the  interests 
of  the  Church  seemed  specially  to  require.  The 
course  of  action  in  the  conference  was  harmonious 
and  cordial  almost  beyond  precedent. 

In  relation  to  Bishop  Hedding,  it  was  resolved, 
in  view  of  his  age  and  bodily  infirmities,  that  "he 
consider  himself  at  liberty  to  use  his  own  discretion 
as  to  the  amount  of  episcopal  or  other  pastoral 
labour"  he  will  perform  during  the  coming  four 
years.  He  was  also  requested  "to  prepare  his 
biography  for  publication,  including  especially  his 
observations  and  opinions  in  relation  to  Methodism." 
He  was  further  "requested  to  prepare  and  publish, 
or  cause  to  be  published  at  our  Book  Concern,  his 
views  on  the  Pastorship  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  its  various  grades  of  class-leaders,  preachers 
in  charge,  presiding  elders  and  bishops,  with  the 
.concurrence  of  his  colleagues."  The  failing  health 
of  the  bishop,  and  finally  his  decease,  prevented  his 
compliance  with  these  requests.  Had  he  been  able 
to  prepare  the  w^ork  proposed  in  the  last  request,  it 
would  have  embodied  an  exposition  of  our  economy 


616  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [18i8. 

of  inestimable  value  to  the  Clmrcli.  Such  a  work, 
emanating  from  a  mind  so  clear  and  discriminating, 
and  after  such  profound  study  of  our  economy,  and 
such  large  and  varied  observation  and  experience 
of  its  practical  workings,  would,  no  doubt,  have  left 
its  lasting  impress  upon  every  department  of  the 
administration  of  the  Church.  But  it  was  too  late 
in  life,  and  too  little  physical  energy  and  endm-ance 
were  left  for  him  to  accompHsh  it. 

The  conference  also  resolved  unanimously  to 
request  Bishop  Hedding  to  visit  the  British  Con- 
ference at  some  time  within  the  ensuing  four  years, 
to  reciprocate  for  himself  and  in  behalf  of  that  body, 
and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  the  fraternal  salutations  received 
from  that  body.  With  this  request  also,  it  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  comply.  He  was  now  verging 
toward  the  close  of  his  long  earthly  career. 

This  General  Conference  was  regarded  with  very 
general  and  deep  interest;  and  it  assumed  an  im- 
portance from  its  being  the  first  succeeding  the 
organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
South.  Its  deliberations  were  conducted  with  uni- 
versal care  and  discretion,  and  the  results  attained 
have  tended  powerfully  to  harmonize  and  strengthen 
the  Church.  Its  details  belong  to  another  depart- 
ment of  history. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  conference  Bishop 
Hedding  was  too  feeble  to  be  present:  at  its  sessions; 
and  at  its  close  he  found  himself  unable  to  endure 


1848.]  RETURN   FROM   PITTSBURGH.  617 


journeying  with  the  delegates  returning  home,  and 
yet  he  was  in  snch  an  enfeebled  condition  that  it  was 
not  safe  for  him  to  journey  alone.  "While  in  this 
condition,"  he  says,  "the  Rev.  Manning  Force — an 
old  friend,  and  one  who  had  many  times  shown  me 
kindness — remained  to  accompany  me,  and  brought 
me  safe  through  as  far  as  Philadelphia.  We  came 
through  by  canal  and  railroad  by  the  Juniata 
route." 

The  bishop  also  gives  the  following  incident  con- 
nected with  his  return: — "Unexpectedly  on  this 
journey  I  fell  in  with  another  old  and  dear  friend, 
whose  company  and  conversation  were  of  great 
interest  to  me — it  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Avery.  He 
had  been  for  many  years  a  local  elder  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  resided  at  Pitts- 
burgh. He  was  a  man  of  great  wealth,  and  of 
benevolence  and  liberality  equal  to  his  wealth. 
Prior  to  the  General  Conference  of  1828,  and  dur- 
ing that  conference  I  had  made  his  house  my  home 
when  I  was  in  Pittsburgh,  and  had  received  many 
tokens  of  brotherly  love  at  his  hand;  but  after  that 
he  had  withdrawn  from  the  Church,  and  connected 
himself  with  the  Methodist  Protestant  Society.  At 
the  General  Conference  of  1848,  I  had  not  seen  him 
for  twenty  years,  and  supposed,  from  his  having  left 
the  old  Church,  he  had  became  alienated  from  his 
old  friends.  He  now  resided  at  Alleghany  city,  and 
was  living  in  princely  style.  He  entertained  a  num- 
ber of  delegates  during  the  session  of  the  General 


618  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1848. 

Conference.  One  day  he  sent  his  carriage  for  me 
to  go  over  and  dine  with  him.  I  rejoiced  at  the 
opportunity  of  renewing  my  former  acquaintance 
with  him.  I  found  him  the  same  brother  Avery  he 
had  been  twenty  years  before — differing  in  opinion, 
to  be  sure,  on  some  points  of  Church  government, 
but  the  same  in  doctrine,  in  spirit,  in  zeal  for  Christ, 
in  brotherly  love,  and  in  friendship  to  his  former 
brethren  from  whom  he  had  separated.  He  and 
brother  Force  and  myself  had  a  delightful  journey 
across  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  Our  Christian 
intercourse  was  mutually  edifying,  and  our  souls 
were  knit  together  in  love." 

At  Philadelphia,  Bishop  Hedding  parted  with  his 
kind  travelling  companion,  and  continued  his  course 
homeward  alone.  After  recruiting  liis  strength  a 
little,  he  went  to  Manchester,  'N.  H.,  where  he  met 
the  New-Hampshire  Conference  on  the  21st  of  June. 
He  says  of  the  session,  "We  had  a  pleasant,  inter- 
esting and  profitable  time.  The  Sabbath  was  a  day 
of  special  interest  and  of  the  manifestation  of  God's 
power.  The  Methodists  have  a  large  church  and  a 
flom'ishing  society  in  the  place.  By  the  arrange- 
ment I  was  designated  to  preach  Sabbath  morning. 
The  great  size  of  the  building,  and  the  vastness  of 
the  congregation,  excited  the  apprehensions  of  many, 
that  I  would  not  be  able  to  make  myself  heard  by 
the  multitude.  I  apprehended  this  myself;  but 
through  the  abundant  mercy  and  grace  of  the 
Kedeemer,  I  was  enabled  to  preach  so  that  all  could 


1848.]  SCENES    OF   EARLY    LABOUR.  619 

hear,  being,  as  it  then  seemed  to  me,  and  as  it  has 
since  appeared,  miraculousl j  strengthened  and  blessed 
in  both  soul  and  body."  In  this  discom^e  the  bishop 
seemed  to  have  renewed  his  age  and  his  strength. 
Many  of  the  congregation  gave  evidence  that  God 
was  in  his  word ;  and  many  of  the  preachers  were 
deeply  affected.  It  was  probably  the  last  great  effort 
of  Bishop  Hedding. 

The  Sabbath  after  the  close  of  this  conference  he 
spent  in  Lebanon,  on  the  western  border  of  the 
state.  "  Here,"  said  he,  "  I  had  been  circuit  preacher 
forty-four  years  ago,  and  presiding  elder  forty-one. 
In  those  days  the  only  place  in  which  we  could 
worship  in  Lebanon  was  a  smaU  school-house,  and 
that  on  week  days,  with  but  few  members  and  few 
hearei"s.  Such  were  the  prejudices  against  the 
Methodists  then,  that  few  would  countenance  them 
in  any  way.  But,  "  behold,  what  has  God  wrought !" 
We  have  now  a  large,  flourishing,  and  prosperous 
society ;  a  good  house  of  worship,  and  a  good  station. 
Most  of  the  members  I  had  formerly  known  were 
dead;  but  I  found  tsvo  or  three  who  wept  at  the 
remembrance  of  former  times.  Here,  in  company 
with  two  or  three  other  preachers,  I  spent  a  delight- 
ful Sabbath." 

From  Lebanon  he  was  carried  by  one  of  the 
preachers  in  his  carriage  across  the  country  to  Ban*e, 
Yt.,  where  the  Vermont  conference  commenced  on 
the  5th  of  July.  The  session  of  the  conference 
passed  off  delightfully.    Bishop  Hedding  seemed  to 


620  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1848. 

feel  that  he  Tvas  visiting  his  "brethren  for  the  last 
time.  Of  this  place,  he  also  says, — "Here  I  had 
been  circuit  preacher  in  1805 — forty-three  years  ago. 
Most  of  my  old  friends  had  gone  to  'Abraham's 
bosom.'  But  a  few  remained;  many  of  them,  who 
were  young  men  when  I  was  on  the  circuit,  I  knew 
now  because  they  looked  as  their  departed  fathers 
did  forty-three  years  before."  The  preaching  on  the 
Sabbath  at  this  conference  was  in  the  open  air,  and 
Bishop  Hedding  found  it  impossible,  in  his  enfeebled 
state  of  health,  to  preach  loud  enough  to  make  the 
vast  multitude  hear.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  my  failure 
was  made  up  by  another  preacher  of  strong  voice 
and  powerful  spirit,  who  preached  in  the  afternoon, 
so  that  the  whole  people  could  hear :  so  that,  on  the 
whole,  we  had  a  profitable  Sabbath." 

After  this  conference  closed,  he  went,  by  the  way 
of  Boston,  to  Portland,  Me.,  where  he  met  the  Maine 
Conference  on  the  19th  of  July;  then  to  Bangor, 
on  the  Penobscot  Eiver,  where  he  met  the  East 
Maine  Conference  on  the  2d  of  August.  This 
closed  his  episcopal  labour  in  the  conferences  for 
the  year.  He  returned  home  by  easy  stages,  and 
was  pretty  much  confined  there,  on  account  of  his 
feeble  health,  through  the  ensuing  winter. 

In  the  spring  of  1849  Bishop  Hedding  met  his 
colleagues  at  jSTewark,  New-Jersey,  on  the  9th  of 
April.  Afterward  he  assisted  Bishop  Hamline  at 
the  Xew-England  Conference,  which  met  at  Spring- 
field, April  25th;  also  Bishop  Morris  at  the  JS'ew- 


1849.]  KEMINISCEirCES  OP  AN  EAELT  CIRCUIT.  621 

York  Conference,  at  Pouglikeepsie,  May  9tli;  and 
Bishop  Hamline  again,  at  the  Troy  Conference, 
which  met  at  Sandy  Hill,  Kew-York,  May  30th. 

Of  this  latter  place  he  says :  "  The  village  where 
we  held  the  conference  formed  a  part  of  the  circuit 
which  I  travelled  part  of  the  year  1801,  under  the 
presiding  elder,  Shadrach  Bostwick,  long  since  dead. 
It  was  then  called  Cambridge  Circuit,  and  embraced 
an  extent  of  territory  larger  than  any  district  now  in 
the  Troy  Conference."  Great,  however,  as  the  circuit 
then  was  in  extent,  there  were  but  two  churches  within 
its  bounds,  and  those  were  small.  The  bishop  adds  the 
following  reminiscences  of  his  early  experience  on  this 
circuit:  "We  preached  usually  every  day  through  the 
week  as  well  as  on  the  Sabbath,  through  a  journey 
of  six  weeks  to  get  around  the  circuit.  Our  temples 
of  worship  were  private  houses  and  school-houses ; 
and  we  established  preaching  wherever  we  could  get 
a  few  hearers.  In  this  circuit  was  one  appointment 
where  I  used  to  ride  twenty  miles  out,  over  a  bad  road, 
to  preach  to  about  twenty  or  thirty  people  on  a  week- 
day, where  we  had  about  a  dozen  members ;  and  then 
back  again  twenty  miles.  Sometimes  we  used  to  make 
this  journey  through  storms  of  rain,  or  sleet,  or  snow." 
What  a  lesson  is  this  for  young  preachers  of  the  present 
day  !  Yerily,  this  was  going  unto  "  the  lost  sheep  of 
the  house  of  Israel."  "  In  the  extreme  north  part  of 
this  circuit,"  he  continues,  "was  a  brother  at  whose 
house  I  used  to  preach,  who  was  converted  in  Ireland 
under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  Wesley.  He 


622  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1849. 

brought  with  him  to  this  new  settlement  the  true 
spirit  of  Christianity,  and  most  of  his  family  were  par- 
takei*s  of  hke  precious  faith.  I  have  heard  from  his 
own  lips  his  testimony  in  regard  to  the  power  of 
saving  grace ;  and  heard  him  say  that  for  forty  years 
there  had  not  been  a  moment  that  he  doubted  if  he 
should  die  at  any  time  he  should  go  straight  home  to 
heaven.  This  experience  was  fiilly  corroborated  in 
his  life,  his  daily  walk,  and  conversation.  A  few  years 
after  his  settlement  in  this  country  he  was  licensed  as 
a  local  preacher,  and  continued  such  to  the  end  of  his 
hfe.  The  last  sennon  he  preached  was  at  one  of  the. 
two  meeting-houses  mentioned.  I  have  been  credibly 
informed  that  at  this  time,  while  preaching  this  ser- 
mon, he  told  the  congregation  he  was  preaching  for 
the  last  time — his  work  was  done !  God  was  about 
to  give  him  a  release,  and  call  him  home.  His  ser- 
mon was  preached  with  unction ;  he  and  the  people 
shouting  aloud  the  praises  of  the  Kedeemer.  After 
he  had  finished  his  discourse  he  left  the  pulpit,  seated 
himself  in  a  chair  in  the  altar,  and  calmly  resigned 
his  spirit  to  God. 

"If  we  were  wanting  proof  that  Methodism  was 
the  child  of  God,  and  that  it  has  received  the  fostering 
care  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  we  need  look 
no  further  for  a  confirmation  of  these  facts  than  to 
its  rise  and  progress  within  the  bounds  of  what  was 
formerly  Cambridge  Circuit.  The  state  of  the  Church 
in  all  this  region  in  1801,  with  its  two  meeting-houses, 
scattered  population,  and  scanty  membership,  forms 


1849.] 


TRAVELS   AND  LABOURS. 


623 


a  striking  contrast  with  the  state  of  the  Methodist 
Church  here  in  1849.  Thriving  villages  have  sprung 
up  in  the  place  of  the  lonely  farm  house;  stately 
houses  of  worship  have  succeeded  the  school-houses 
and  lowly  dwellings  where  we  used  to  congregate ; 
the  "teng"  of  God's  true  worshippers  have  been  mul- 
tiplied into  "  thousands so  that  we  can  but  exclaim 
of  a  truth,  "  Tlie  wilderness  and  solitary  place  has 
been  made  glad,  the  desert  has  rejoiced  and  blossomed 
as  the  rose !" 

We  cannot  do  better  here  than  to  favour  the  reader 
with  the  bishop's  own  account  of  his  travels  and 
labours,  which  we  find  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Rev. 
L.  M.  Yincent:  "After  the  close  of  the  Troy  Con- 
ference, at  Sandy  Hill,  I  returned  home,  where  I 
arrived  the  8tli  of  June.  June  15th,  left  home  again 
for  the  Black  River  Conference.  Preached  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  at  Rome,  JSTew-York.  June  18th, 
preached  at  Syracuse,  at  a  meeting  held  for  the 
Indians  of  the  Oneida  mission,  and  admitted  an 
Indian  to  deacon's  orders. 

"  From  Syracuse  I  proceeded  to  Fulton,  ITew-York, 
where  I  met  the  Black  River  Conference.  Confer- 
ence commenced  its  session  the  20th  of  June,  and 
continued  about  a  week.  It  was  one  of  great  interest 
to  preachers  and  people.  June  2Tth,  left  Fulton;  and 
returned  by  way  of  Syracuse,  Utica,  and  Schenectady 
to  Saratoga  Springs.  Thence  I  went  north  to  Lake 
Champlain,  chiefly  to  visit  relations  in  JSTew-York  and 
Yermont;  but  employed  part  of  the  time  in  visiting 


624 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[18+9. 


the  Churches  and  ordaining  local  deacons  who  had 
before  been  elected  by  the  conference.  Returned 
home  the  13th  of  July. 

"  On  the  18th  of  July  left  home  again,  and  went 
by  the  way  of  New- York  to  Middletown,  Connecticut, 
where  I  preached  Sabbath,  July  22d. 

On  Monday,  July  23d,  I  was  called  to  Wilbraham, 
Massachusetts,  to  attend  the  funeral  of  the  Rev. 
Joseph  A.  Merrill,  of  the  New-England  Conference. 
I  had  before  been  informed  by  letter,  that  it  was  the 
request  of  brother  Merrill,  while  living,  that  I  should 
preach  his  funeral  sermon.  On  Tuesday  the  24:th  1 
performed  this  solemn  duty,  taking  for  my  text  2  Tim. 
iv,  7,  8.  Brother  Merrill  had  been  a  travelling 
preacher  forty-three  years.  My  acquaintance  with 
him  had  commenced  when  he  was  about  seventeen 
years  old.  I  had  frequently  seen  him,  and  been  in- 
timate with  him  through  the  whole  course  of  his 
ministry. 

"  He  had  left  a  fair  character  as  a  Christian  and 
as  a  minister.  He  died  in  peace,  and  in  full  hope 
of  eternal  life.  He  had  left  a  widow  with  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Tln-ee  of  the  sons  and  a  husband 
of  one  of  the  daughters  were  travelling  preachers, 
and  members  of  the  New-England  Conference.  Two 
of  the  sons  were  lawyers,  and  one  a  farmer.  'He, 
being  dead,  yet  speaketh.' 

"About  thirty  travelling  preachers  were  present 
at  the  funeral ;  and  though  we  had  met  on  a  mourn- 


1849.1 


REV.   J.    A.  MERRILL. 


625 


ful  occasion,  we  were  comforted  with  the  belief 
that  our  departed  brother  had  gone  to  rest.  Another 
circumstance  was  interesting  to  me.  I  had  been 
presiding  elder  there  forty  years  before,  and  well 
acquainted  through  all  the  country.  Many  of  my 
old  friends,  whom  I  had  not  expected  to  see  again 
in  this  "svorld,  assembled  on  this  occasion,  and  we 
mingled  our  joys,  and  sorrows,  and  tears. 

"After  the  funeral  of  brother  Merrill,  I  returned 
to  Middletown,  attended  the  commencement  of  the 
Wesleyan  TJniversity  the  1st  of  August,  passed  a 
few  days  at  Middletown,  and  returned  home,  where 
I  arrived  the  11th  of  August. 

"  On  my  way  home  from  Connecticut  I  was  taken 
sick,  and  was  obliged  to  remain  at  home  under  the 
care  of  a  physician  about  two  months,  consequently 
I  was  not  able  to  attend  the  East  Genesee  and 
Genesee  Conferences,  at  both  of  which  I  should  have 
presided  had  health  permitted.  Bishop  Hamhne 
attended  the  former,  and  Bishop  Morris  the  latter, 
in  my  stead. 

"  This  is  the  first  time  I  have  failed  in  getting  to 
a  conference  where  it  was  my  duty  to  preside  since 
I  have  held  the  office — twenty-five  years.  At  sev- 
eral of  the  conferences  during  that  time,  I  was  so 
sick  I  could  do  but  little;  a  number  of  times  I 
have  travelled  when  I  was  sick,  in  order  to  reach 
the  conferences. 

"  The  state  of  my  health  and  my  age  required  me 
to  remain  at  home  through  the  winter ;  but  through 


626 


LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1860. 


God's  mercy  I  was  enabled  most  of  the  time  to 
preach  once  every  Sabbath,  and  have  enjoyed  many 
seasons  of  religious  comfort  with  the  people  of  God 
in  the  house  of  prayer.  Tet,  though  at  home,  I  have 
had  plenty  of  care  of  the  churches,  and  plenty  of 
letters  on  Church  business  to  answer  from  different 
pai'ts  of  the  country.  But  God  has  kept  my  soul 
in  peace.    Glory  be  to  His  holy  name ! 

"  March  the  14th,  1850,  I  left  home  and  went  to 
Xew-York,  where  I  passed  a  few  days,  and  preached 
the  following  Sabbath.  March  19th,  I  went  to  Phila- 
delphia. March  20th,  met  my  colleagues  (all  but 
Bishop  Hamline,  who  was  detained  at  home  sick.) 
on  important  Church  business,  in  which  we  laboured 
a  week. 

"  March  27th,  the  Philadelphia  Conference  com- 
menced. Bishop  Waugh  presided,  and  I  assisted. 
At  the  preceding  session  of  that  conference  a  request 
had  been  made,  by  vote,  that  the  president  of  the 
j^resent  session  should  preach  the  opening  sermon, 
which  is  a  custom  of  that  conference ;  and  though 
Bishop  Waugh  was  president,  and  this  duty  naturally 
devolved  on  him,  he  requested  and  urged  me  to 
perform  it,  which  I  attempted,  on  1  Tim.  iv,  10. 
The  conference  requested  that  the  sermon  might  be 
pubHshed,  which  was  afterwards  done. 

'''April  13.  Went  to  Burlington,  Kew- Jersey,  to 
see  an  old  friend  who  was  sick,  and  passed  the 
Sabbath  there,  though  having  taken  a  severe  cold 
I  was  unable  to  preach. 


1850.] 


THE   BISHOP'S  JOTJENAL. 


627 


"April  16.  Returned  to  Philadelphia  again,  and 
met  my  colleagues,  by  previous  arrangement,  on 
the  business  we  had  not  been  able  to  finish. 

"April  17.  I  opened  the  New-Jersey  Conference 
at  Camdem,  New-Jersey,  at  which  I  presided,  and 
Bishop  Waugh  assisted.  At  this  conference  we  had 
a  delightfully  pleasant  and  agreeable  session,  with 
the  exception  that  we  had  a  great  amount  of  trouble 
in  making  the  appointments. 

"After  the  conference  I  returned  home,  where 
I  arrived  April  26th.  During  most  of  the  time  of 
my  absence  I  have  been  very  much  affected  by 
severe  cold  and  pain  in  my  head,  so  that  I  was  able 
to  preach  but  twice  during  my  absence. 

"May  2.  Went  to  New-York  to  meet  the  Gen- 
eral Mission  Committee.  After  the  business  of  that 
committee  was  over,  returned  home.  May  4th. 

May  7.  Went  to  New- York  again  to  Conference. 
May  8th,  opened  the  New- York  Conference  in 
Eighteenth-street  Church,  which  continued  its  session 
till  May  18th.  A  long  session  of  great  labour  and 
burdensome  business :  more  than  I  could  have 
endured  had  not  Bishop  Janes  been  there  to  assist 
me. 

"  May  19.  Rested  the  Sabbath-day. 

"  Monday,  May  20th,  proceeded  to  New-Haven, 
Conn.,  to  attend  the  New- York  East  Conference. 
Met  the  presiding  elders,  Monday  afternoon  and 
Tuesday,  to  make  preparatory  arrangements  for  the 
business  of  the  conference.    May  22d,  opened  the 

27 


628  LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDIXG.  [1850. 

Is'ew-York  East  Conference,  Tvhicli  continued  till  tlie 
SOth.  Great  difficulties  in  the  stationing  part  of  the 
business  called  for  labour  and  patience.  Bishop 
Janes  was  also  present  here,  and  rendered  me  great 
assistance. 

"  Cold  and  cough,  and  sore  lungs,  have  kept  me 
from  preaching  from  March  27  till  this  time ;  but 
I  am  now  getting  better,  and  hope  I  shall  soon  be 
able  to  speak  for  my  Master.  After  the  conference 
at  Xew-Haven  I  returned  home,  where  I  arrived 
the  1st  of  June.  From  the  14:th  of  March  to  the 
1st  of  June  mj  laboui-s  have  been  excessive — far  too 
heavy  for  one  of  my  age ;  but  the  Lord  has  merci- 
fully preserved  me.    Glory  be  to  His  holy  name ! 

"  On  the  20th  of  June  I  left  home  and  went  to 
Xew-York,  where,  by  previous  appointment,  I 
ordained  a  coloured  brother  from  Liberia  both 
deacon  and  elder. 

"  At  5  P.  M.  the  same  day  I  went  on  board  the 
steamboat,  and  during  the  night  sailed  to  Fall  Eiver, 
Mass.  ;  thence  by  railroad  to  Boston,  thence  by 
steamboat  to  Frankfort,  Maine,  on  the  Penobscot 
River,  where  I  assisted  Bishop  Morris  in  the  busi- 
ness of  the  East  Maine  Conference.  This  conference 
commenced  June  26th.  A  pleasant  and  profitable 
session. 

"  Then  returned  to  Portland,  where  I  passed  the 
following  Sabbath,  and  visited  my  old  friends  with 
whom  I  formerly  officiated  as  pastor,  a  few  of  whom 
are  yet  alive. 


1850.]    VISIT   TO   THE   BIBLICAL   INSTITUTE.  629 


"  Then  came  to  Kennebiink  Port,  where  the 
Maine  Conference  commenced  the  10th  of  July. 
There  also  I  assisted  Bishop  Morris  in  the  labours 
of  the  conference.  I  found  pecuharities  connected 
with  this  place,  where  we  held  our  session  of  con- 
ference, such  as  I  scarce  ever  found  in  a  village  or 
town  before.  I  was  credibly  informed  by  ministers 
and  others  that  there  was  not  a  drunkard  in  the  place, 
nor  a  pauper  in  the  town ;  that  every  person  or  family 
were  in  circumstances  to  provide  comfortably  for 
themselves,  and  no  place  where  ardent  spirits  were  sold. 

"  After  this  conference,  returned  to  Lynn,  Massachu- 
setts ;  paid  a  visit  among  my  old  friends  there.  Then 
to  Boston ;  then  to  Concord,  ISTew-Hampshire.  Here 
I  was  called  suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  the  next  day 
after  my  arrival,  to  go  and  deliver  a  lecture  to  the 
students  of  the  Biblical  Institute  at  this  place.  After 
this  visit  at  Concord,  I  returned  by  the  way  of  Woos- 
ter  and  Norwich  to  Kew-York ;  thence  home,  where 
I  arrived  on  the  25th. 

"  Great  mercies  have  been  my  protection  and  com- 
fort during  these  journeys  and  labours.  O  that  I 
may  be  thankful  and  obedient ! 

"After  resting  a  season  at  home  I  was  called  to 
visit  ITewark,  E'ew-Jersey,  and  attend  the  laying  of 
the  corner  stone  of  a  new  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  that  place.  The  service  was  of  course  out  of  doors ; 
the  weather  rainy,  the  air  damp ;  took  cold,  and  was 
sick  through  the  night,  and  was  barely  able  to  reach 
home  the  follo^dng  day. 


630  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1850. 

"After  this,  passed  the  time  comfortably,  at  and 
about  home,  until  the  28th  of  December." 

This  brings  us  down  to  the  close  of  the  active 
service  of  Bishop  Hedding  in  the  Church  of  God. 
The  account  of  his  last  sickness  and  death — the  inter- 
views had  with  him,  the  remarkable  sayings  he  uttered, 
and  the  trial  and  triumph  of  his  faith — we  have  re- 
served for  a  distinct  chapter. 

Referring  to  the  simple  record  of  his  travels,  which 
extended  through  the  period  of  fifty  years'  labour,  he 
says :  "I  might  have  mentioned  a  great  many  diffi- 
culties I  have  met  with  in  travelling  from  year  to 
year, — ^being  thrown  off  of  horses,  turned  over  in  car- 
riages, losing  and  laming  horses  on  journeys,  crowded 
in  stages,  sometimes  riding  all  night  in  dark  and  miry 
roads,  at  the  rate  of  two  miles  an  hour,  sometimes 
crowded  in  canal  boats  so  full  of  people  that  in  hot 
nights  we  were  well-nigh  suffocated  ;  sometimes  per- 
forming hazardous  voyages  in  sloops,  on  the  coast 
from  IS^ew-York  to  Maine,  before  there  were  any 
steamboats.  I  have  been  in  perils  at  sea,  on  steam- 
boats, in  dark  and  stormy  nights ;  I  have  been  in  perils 
in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  among  the  heathen,  perils 
among  false  brethren — worst  of  all !  but  out  of  them 
all  the  Lord  has  delivered  me. 

"  When  I  commenced  preaching  I  verily  believed 
God  called  me,  and  that  I  could  not  serve  him 
acceptably  in  any  other  way.  "Without  this  belief  I 
should  not  have  undertaken  to  be  a  preacher,  nor  con- 
tinued in  the  work  after  I  commenced.    I  knew  my 


1851.]  REVIEWS    HIS    EXPEKIENCE.  631 


own  weakness,  my  want  of  learning,  and  of  suitable 
qualifications  for  a  minister  of  Christ. 

"  I  had  no  expectation,  and  I  may  say  no  desire,  of 
ever  being  a  preacher  capable  of  giving  satisfaction 
in  polished  and  enlightened  congregations ;  but,  as  I 
believed  God  called  me,  I  thought  I  might  be  able  to 
speak  so  as  to  be  understood  and  acceptable  among 
the  unpolished  people  of  the  wilderness,  the  new 
countries,  and  the  poor  circuits;  and  this  was  the 
height  of  my  expectations  and  of  my  desire.  I  cared 
not  where  I  went,  nor  to  what  field  of  labour  I  was 
assigned,  only  so  that  I  might  preach  Christ,  and  be 
the  means  of  saving  some  of  the  souls  he  had  re- 
deemed. 

"  I  have  gone  through  a  life  of  toil,  and  in  many 
respects  of  privation  and  suffering ;  I  have  been  a  great 
many  times  sick — severely  so ;  and  a  great  many  times 
sick  among  strangers,  but  especially  so  with  that  dread- 
ful sickness  which  has  before  been  named,  when  I  was 
broken  down  with  the  rheumatism  in  E"ew-Hamp- 
shire,  in  the  year  1803.  I  think  I  suffered  more  there 
in  six  weeks  than  I  ever  have  in  all  my  sufferings,  put 
them  all  together,  from  my  infancy  to  the  present 
day ;  but  God  has  mingled  mercies  with  my  suffer- 
ings all  through,  so  that  on  the  whole  I  have  had  a 
life  of  great  comforts, — great  comfort  in  the  fellow- 
ship of  Christ,  great  comfort  in  the  friendship  and 
fellowship  of  his  ministers  and  people. 

"  I  am  now  beyond  three  score  and  ten,  my  strength 
to  labour  in  the  vineyard  is  gone,  I  am  daily  looking 


632  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1851. 


forward  to  the  hour  when  I  must  give  an  account  of 
my  stewardship ;  but  through  the  merit  of  Christ  I 
look  into  eternity  with  hope  and  comfort. 

"Many  people  have  asked  me  whether  I  think 
Methodism  is  in  as  good  a  state  now  as  it  was  fifty 
years  ago.  The  condition  of  the  Methodist  Chm-ch 
is  now  far  different  from  what  it  was  then;  great 
improvements  and  enlargements  have  been  made, 
great  prosperity  has  attended  the  Church.  In  many 
respects  the  Church  is  now  far  better  than  it  was  then; 
in  other  respects,  perhaps,  not  as  good :  but  whether 
as  to  real  Christianity  it  is  now  better  or  worse  than 
it  was  then,  I  do  not  consider  myself  a  competent 
judge.  It  would  be  difficult  to  make  up  an  opinion 
on  that  point. 

"  There  was  a  great  amount  of  real  religion  among 
the  preachers  and  people  then,  and  there  is  also  now ; 
but  this  one  thing  I  would  say,  both  preachers  and  peo- 
ple bore  heavier  burdens  fifty  years  ago  than  they  do 
now.  I  would  say  still  further,  that  fifty  years  ago 
the  Methodist  preachers  and  people  were  a  holy 
'people,  they  were  so  as  a  body ;  and  they  made  great 
sacrifices  and  performed  great  labours  for  the  cause 
of  Christ." 

During  his  latter  days.  Bishop  Hedding  took 
peculiar  pleasure  in  calling  up  the  reminiscences 
of  the  past;  especially  the  incidents  of  an  early 
itinerant  life. 

Speaking  of  the  zeal  of  some  early  Methodist 
preachers,  he  remarked  that  he  once  visited  a  place 


1861.]    BILLY  HIBBARD  AND  HIS  COLLEAGUE.  633 

where  tlie  Rev.  Billy  Hibbard  and  a  young  col- 
league had  formerly  held  meeting  in  a  private 
house.  Once  each  of  the  young  ministers  kneeled 
to  pray,  and  in  their  earnest  pleadings  they  so  far 
forgot  themselves  as  to  lift  the  chairs  at  which  they 
were  kneeling,  and  dash  them  violently  down  against 
the  floor.  This  they  continued  to  do  till  they  had 
each  made  a  complete  wreck  of  their  seats,  and  all 
with  entire  unconsciousness.  The  propriety  of  such 
vehement  and  absorbing  zeal  may  be  called  in  ques- 
tion; but  it  is  certainly  preferable  to  a  precise 
and  frigid  uniformity,  which  cramps  the  energies 
of  the  soul  and  robs  religion  of  its  aggressive 
power.  Tliose  were  times  of  great  spiritual  dark- 
ness and  of  fearful  apathy  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
and  it  required  extraordinary  means  to  break  that 
apathy ;  and  if  those  means  sometimes  came  rather 
harshly  across  some  of  the  nicer  rules  of  propriety, 
they,  nevertheless,  were  effective  in  bringing  about 
great  and  good  results. 

On  another  occasion,  speaking  of  class-meetings 
and  the  want  of  a  more  uniform  and  general  attend- 
ance, he  remarked,  "There  are  two  difiiculties  in 
the  way.  The  first,  and  most  general  one,  is  this : 
Many  are  cold  in  religion,  and  they  do  not  wish  to 
go  to  class  and  tell  a  dull  story.  The  second  is  : 
Some  good  people  are  disgusted  by  hearing  the 
flaming  testimonies  which  are  sometimes  made  by 
persons  whose  lives  are  at  wide  variance  from  their 
professions — who  talk  one  thing  and  practise  another. 


634  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1851. 

Honest,  conscientious  people  see  this  discrepancy, 
and  forsake  the  class-room  to  avoid  the  annoyance. 
"  To  illustrate  this,"  said  he,  "  I  saw  a  case  when 
travelling  in  the  north  part  of  JSTew-England  in  my 
younger  days.  My  circuit  was  large,  and  I  preached 
mostly  in  private  dwellings.  In  that  region  there 
were  many  Free- Will  Baptists.  Their  doctrines  dif- 
fering but  little  from  ours,  they  freely  admitted  me 
to  their  churches  where  they  had  them,  and  in  other 
places  to  their  habitations,  to  preach.  It  was  their 
custom  after  preaching  to  exhort,  or,  as  they  called 
it,  ''free  their  minds?  After  I  had  preached  in  one 
of  their  houses,  (where  I  had  a  regular  appointment, 
but  no  Methodist  society,)  one  of  the  Baptist  brethren 
arose  in  front  of  me  to  ^free  his  mind.^  He  was 
warm,  earnest,  and  vehement  in  his  warning  to  the 
people.  But  during  his  exhortation  my  attention 
was  arrested  by  the  movements  of  a  well-dressed, 
gentlemanly  man,  who  arose  at  the  back  part  of  the 
room,  and  crowded  over  the  tops  of  the  seats  until 
he  i^ressed  his  way  to  a  position  in  front  of  the 
speaker.  His  look  was  earnest  and  determined. 
He  evidently  intended  to  'free  his  mind.'  Soon  as 
the  first  speaker  had  finished,  this  second  one  arose, 
and  fixing  a  scorching  look  upon  the  man  Avho  had 
just  taken  his  seat,  he  said,  'You  preach  very  well, 
but  I  should  like  to  have  you  p^ractise  what  you 
preach,  I  wish  you  would  call  and  settle  for  the 
stove  tiraber  you  stole  from  my  woods. The 
exhorter,  without  pleading  to  the  charge,  arose  in 


1851.] 


OUR   ITINERANT  SYSTEM. 


635 


a  storm  of  excitement,  clenched  his  fist,  elevated 
his  arm,  and  vociferated,  'Depart  from  me,  ye 
cm'sed,  into  everlasting  fire  prepared  for  the  devil 
and  his  angels!'  Here  I  closed  the  meeting.  The 
neighbours  said  that  the  charge  of  theft  against  the 
exhorter  was  true.  The  family  where  this  occurred 
afterward  became  Methodists,  and  a  good  society 
was  raised  up  in  that  place. 

"  At  another  time,  when  I  had  finished  a  sermon 
among  the  Free -Will  Baptists,  several  arose  to  con- 
firm the  truth  of  what  had  been  said  in  the  sermon. 
One  brother,  wishing  to  '  free  his  mind,'  and  pay  the 
sermon  a  high  compliment,  said,  'You  have  heard 
the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  more  thorn  the  truth.^ " 

At  another  time,  not  long  before  his  death,  speak- 
ing of  Methodism,  he  said,  "For  more  than  fifty 
years  I  have  been  permitted  to  be  a  witness  of  the 
wonderful  works  of  God  in  this  land.  I  have  wit- 
nessed the  glorious  effects  of  the  Methodist  doctrine, 
proclaiming  a  free  salvation  to  all  men  on  the  easy 
condition  the  gospel  prescribes,  making  the  way  to 
heaven  plain  to  all  who  try  to  walk  therein,  open- 
ing to  every  soul  of  man  a  precious  privilege  of 
escape  in  being  saved  from  sin  and  hell. 

"  I  have  seen  also  the  wonderful  effects  of  the 
Methodist  itinerant  system  in  carrying  the  gospel 
to  the  poor,  to  the  wicked,  to  the  people  that  dwelt 
in  the  wilderness,  to  many  thousands  who  never 
would  have  sought  for  it,  or  asked  for  it,  or  heard  it, 
had  not  the  'ithneromt  system?  brought  it  to  their 

27* 


636 


LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1851. 


doors  and  ui'ged  it  upon  them.  I  have  seen  these, 
I  saj,  sufficiently  to  make  me  love  and  cherish  that 
system,  and  to  pray  and  hope  that  it  shall  be  kept 
pure  and  in  efficient  operation,  until  the  whole 
world  shall  be  converted  to  God.  But  I  am  obliged 
to  lament  that  I  see  among  some  of  our  preachers, 
and  among  some  of  our  laymen,  signs  of  a  departure 
from  the  purity  of  that  system,  bringing  it  under 
limitations  and  restraints,  which,  if  permitted  to 
prevail,  will  ultimately  weaken  or  destroy  it." 


1850J 


SUDDEN  ILLNESS. 


637 


CHAPTER  XX. 

LAST  HOURS  OF  BISHOP  H  ED  DING. 

Bishop  Hedding  viewed  in  a  New  Scene — First  Attack  of  Acute  Disease  — 
Second  Attack  —  Hopes  —  Their  Disappointment — State  of  his  Mind  — 
Assailed  by  Satan  —  Record  of  God's  Mercy  —  Notes  taken  of  his  Expe- 
rience and  Remarks  —  Gradual  Decline  —  Conversations  during  the  Last 
Months  of  his  Life  —  Expression  of  his  Feelings  to  Rev.  Mr.  Ferris  — 
Last  Public  Exercise  —  Infirmities  Increased — Draws  up  his  Will — Una- 
bated Interest  in  the  Church  —  Prospect  of  Seeing  and  Knowing  Friends 
in  Heaven — Interest  in  Prayer — Views  on  leaving  the  Church  on  Earth 
— Last  Sacrament  —  His  Trust  in  the  Midst  of  Distress  —  A  Day  of  Suf- 
fering and  of  Triumph  —  Terrible  bodily  Condition — Wonderful  Grace 
— Visited  by  Bishop  Janes  and  Dr.  Feck  —  The  Closing  Scene  —  Funeral 
Services  —  Epitaph  upon  his  Monument. 

We  have  traced  the  history  of  this  eminent  servant  of 
Christ  through  the  long  and  eventful  course  of  his 
active  ministry.  We  come  now  to  contemplate  him 
in  another  and  widely  different  sphere — one  of  dis- 
ease, suffering,  and  death.  We  wish  to  know  how  he 
passed  through  his  final  conflict,  and  how  he  met  his 
last,  great  enemy.  We  have  seen  the  hero  warring 
nobly  on  the  great  battle-field  of  the  cross ;  we  come 
now  to  inquire  whether  the  faith  and  hope  of  that 
cross  sustained  him  when  called  to  put  off  his  ar- 
mour, and  lie  down  to  die. 

Tlie  first  attack  of  acute  disease  was  experienced 
on  the  28th  day  of  December,  1850.  The  attack  was 
as  sudden  as  it  was  fearful.  He  had  been  taking  his 
accustomed  walk,  though  the  day  was  severely  cold, 


638  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1850. 

and  was  returning  home,  when  he  was  suddenly 
seized  with  difficulty  of  breathing.  The  difficulty 
was  so  great  that  he  seemed  nearly  suffocated,  and 
his  strength  entirely  exhausted.  With  difficulty  he 
reached  the  parsonage  of  the  First  Methodist  Church, 
then  occupied  by  the  Rev.  L.  M.  Yincent,  the  pastor, 
and  was  barely  able  to  say :  "  Carry  me  home — I  am 
suffocating."  He  was  immediately  conveyed  home, 
apparently  in  a  dying  state.  Physicians  were  soon 
in  attendance,  but  it  was  more  than  an  hour  before 
the  severity  of  his  suffering  abated.  About  a  week 
after  this  he  had  a  second  attack,  of  still  greater 
violence  than  the  first ;  and  for  more  than  two  hours 
of  intense  and  unremitted  suffering  it  seemed  as 
though  nature  was  sinking  in  its  last  conflict.  These 
attacks,  from  which  he  only  partially  recovered,  were 
succeeded  by  others  of  less  violence  and  shorter  con- 
tinuance. The  complication  of  diseases  under  which 
he  had  laboured  for  many  years,  and  also  the  growing 
infirmities  of  age,  rendered  his  recovery  hopeless.  It 
was  painfully  evident  that  his  system  had  received  a 
shock  from  which  it  could  not  recover.  Yet,  through 
the  skill  and  care  of  his  medical  adviser,  he  was  made 
comfortable ;  and  it  was  hoped  that  with  the  return 
of  spring  his  health  might  be  still  further  improved, 
and  that  he  might  be  relieved,  at  least  to  some  extent, 
from  the  great  weakness  and  exhaustion  that  had  suc- 
ceeded his  violent  attacks.  But  these  hopes  were 
disappointed.  Summer  brought  but  little  relief.  Yet, 
as  he  seemed  to  revive  somewhat  in  the  early  part 


1850.]  RECORD    OF    GOD'S    MERCY.  639 


of  the  winter,  his  friends  began  to  hope  that  his  life 
might  be  spared,  and  his  health  permit  him  once  more 
to  mingle,  as  the  patriarch  of  the  Church,  in  her  coun- 
cils at  the  ensuing  General  Conference ;  or  at  least, 
that  he  would  be  able  to  make  his  appearance  in  that 
body,  and  bestow  upon  it  his  final  counsel  and  dying 
blessing.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  succeeding  winter, 
however,  he  suffered  successive  attacks,  which  com- 
pletely blasted  that  hope,  and  made  it  apparent  that 
"  the  time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand." 

It  will  be  well  to  pause  in  the  cm-rent  of  our  narra- 
tive, and  notice  the  state  of  his  mind  in  the  midst  of 
these  sudden,  unexpected,  and  terrible  attacks.  In 
the  afternoon  of  the  first  attack,  after  the  severity  of 
his  distress  had  subsided  so  that  he  could  speak,  he 
said  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Yincent :  "  I  expected  to  die  this 
afternoon.  I  fully  believed  the  hour  of  my  departure 
had  come ;  but,  O,  how  mercifully  I  was  sustained ! 
I  had  no  fear  of  death  or  eternity.  I  felt  that  through 
the  merits  of  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  alone,  it  would  be 
well  with  me  ;  and  knew  that  if  my  ^ork  was  done, 
and  God  ordered  my  discharge,  it  was  right,  aU 
right."  After  his  second  attack,  he  said:  "In  aU 
this  the  enemy  was  not  permitted  to  come  nigh  me." 
And  subsequently,  speaking  of  these  attacks,  and  the 
development  of  what  he  believed  would  be  a  fatal 
disease,  he  said  that  God  had  so  mercifully  dealt  with 
him,  that  for  three  months  after  his  severe  attack  he 
had  not  suffered  a  single  temptation  firom  Satan,  but 
had  enjoyed  wonderful  grace  and  support.    At  the 


64:0  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1851. 

end  of  this  period,  Satan  attacked  liim  violently,  and 
temj)ted  him  to  disbelieve  God's  word.  It  was  a  ter- 
rible conflict.  Objections  more  subtle  than  any  he 
had  read  or  heard  from  infidels  were  thrust  sorely  upon 
him.  But  he  was  enabled  to  answer  them  all;  and 
came  out  of  the  conflict  with  a  faith  radiant  with 
heaven's  own  glory,  to  be  dimmed  and  obscured  no 
more.  "I  have  conquered^''  he  exclaimed,  "and  be- 
lieve I  shall  overcome  at  last,  through  the  mercy  of 
God  and  the  merit  of  Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour,  my 
only  hope." 

On  the  Tth  of  May,  1851,  he  made  the  following 
record,  by  the  assistance  of  an  amanuensis :  "  I  have 
now  been  confined  by  affliction  more  than  four 
months.  I  have  not  been  able  to  attend  public 
worship,  nor  to  go  from  my  house  more  than  about 
one  hundred  rods;  and  that  distance  but  once.  But 
I  have  realized  the  truth  of  that  wonderful  word, 
'My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee.'  When  the  storm 
first  burst  upon  me,  and  the  wind  howled,  the  waves 
roared,  the  surges  beat  upon  my  head,  and  the  deep 
yawned,  nature  said,  A  shattered,  ruined  wreck  you 
are,  the  proud  waters  will  soon  come  over  you !  But 
by  faith  I  saw  Jesus  walking  on  the  water,  and  heard 
him  say,  '  It  is  I,  be  not  afraid ;'  and  my  soul  replied, 
'Behold  God  is  my  salvation,  I  will  trust,  and  not 
be  afraid.'  About  the  middle  of  April,  in  a  night 
when  I  could  not  sleep,  being  on  my  knees  in 
prayer,  I  was  led  to  see  more  clearly  than  I  had 
ever  seen  before  the  goodness  of  God  in  afflicting 


1851.] 


CONFIDENCE   IN  GOB. 


64:1 


his  children,  and  I  was  enabled  to  '  sing  of  mercy  and 
of  judgment.' 

*  Good  is  Jehovah  in  the  rain  and  sunshine, 
Nor  less  his  goodness  in  the  storm  and  thunder ; 
Mercy  and  judgment  both  proceed  from  kindness, 
Infinite  kindness.' 

" Jehovah-jireh !  O,  what  a  name!  O,  how  he 
provides,  and  at  what  a  price ! 

•  His  dying  crimson,  like  a  robe. 

Spreads  o'er  his  body  on  the  tree ; 
Then  I  am  dead  to  all  the  globe. 
And  all  the  globe  is  dead  to  me.' 

"  More  than  fifty  years  since,  God  led  me  to  give  up 
the  world,  in  the  common  acceptation  of  that  phrase ; 
long  ago  I  gave  up  earthly  friends  and  earthly  in- 
terests and  hopes,  to  go  and  preach  Christ's  gospel ; 
but  now  I  am  called  to  give  up  the  Church  on  earth. 
To  think  of  seeing  the  thousands  of  God's  children, 
whom  I  have  known  and  loved,  no  more  on  earth, 
grieves  me ;  but  my  heavenly  Father  has  been  saying 
to  my  heart,  ever  since  this  trouble  came  upon  me, 
'  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God ;'  and  I  am  quiet. 
A  poor  unworthy  sinner  I  am,  but  Christ  is  my 
friend ! 

*  In  age  and  feebleness  extreme. 
Who  shall  a  helpless  worm  redeem  ? 
Jesus,  my  only  hope  thou  art. 
Strength  of  my  failing  flesh  and  heart.' 

I  have  long  believed  the  promises,  but  I  realize  them 
now  more  than  I  ever  did  before.  My  Saviour  has 
said,  '  Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise 


642 


LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1861. 


cast  out.'  I  know  my  will  and  my  heart  come  to 
him ;  and  I  believe  his  promise,  and  feel  safe. 

'  His  word  of  grace  is  sure  and  strong, 

As  that  wliicli  built  the  skies  ; 
The  voice  which  rolls  the  stars  along, 

Speaks  all  the  promises/ 

From  the  first  attack  I  have  felt  no  anxiety — no 
disturbance  from  within  or  from  without,  except 
when  Satan  made  his  fierce  assault;  all  is  calm, 
and  joy,  and  peace.  But  how  is  it  so?  ITature 
could  not  have  done  this,  l^early  sixty  years  ago,  a 
little  before  I  found  Christ,  I  was  placed  in  a,  condi- 
tion of  imminent  danger;  to  human  judgment  it 
seemed  certain  that  I  should  be  dead  in  five  minutes. 
I  had  no  hope  of  escaping ;  and  I  expected  to  drop 
at  once  into  hell.  I  had  no  more  expectation  of 
being  out  of  hell  five  minutes,  than  I  now  have  of 
going  back  to  the  time  of  that  event,  and  of  again 
becoming  a  youth.  But  O,  the  horrors !  'No  one 
can  imagine,  unless  he  has  seen  and  felt  them. 

"  But  in  the  danger  of  this  sickness  I  felt  that  hell 
had  no  claim  upon  me  ;  for  Christ  had  redeemed  me. 

•  When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross 

On  which  the  Prince  of  glory  died, 
My  richest  gain  I  count  but  loss, 
And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride.' 

God  has  wrought  this  change,  no  one  else  in  the 
universe  could  have  done  it. 

*  Close  by  thy  side  still  may  I  keep. 

However  life's  various  currents  flow; 
With  steadfast  eye  mark  every  step. 
And  follow  where  my  Lord  doth  go.' " 


1861.]  EXPRESSION   OF   HIS    FEELINGS.  643 

In  the  spring  of  1851  the  Eev.  William  H.  Ferris 
and  the  writer  were  stationed  in  Poiighkeepsie,  and 
for  nearly  a  year — till  the  close  of  Bishop  Hedding's 
life — were  in  almost  constant  communion  with  him. 
We  immediately  commenced  taking  notes  of  many  of 
his  most  remarkable  and  striking  expressions.  From 
these  notes  the  subsequent  account  of  his  last  hours 
is  mainly  drawn. 

From  the  time  of  his  first  attack,  his  decline 
was  gradual,  sometimes  relieved  by  favourable  indi- 
cations, and  at  other  times  accelerated  by  sudden  and 
alarming  steps.  His  intellectual  powers  remained 
vigorous:  his  memory,  perception  and  judgment 
continued,  with  but  few  intermissions,  clear  and 
distinct  to  the  last.  In  the  midst  of  intense  and 
protracted  bodily  sufi'ering,  he  retained  that  calm- 
ness and  serenity  of  spirit,  and  that  supreme  con- 
fidence of  faith,  so  eminently  characteristic  of  the 
mature  Christian.  His  conversations  during  the  last 
months  and  weeks  of  his  life  were  heavenly  and 
edifying  in  a  high  degree.  In  intercourse  with 
his  Christian  brethren  he  often  gave  full  vent  to 
his  feelings  in  the  most  graphic  and  touching  expres- 
sions. At  one  time  he  broke  out  in  the  exclama- 
tion :  "  O  what  a  wonder  it  is  that  such  a  poor, 
worthless,  hell-deserving  wretch  as  I  am  should  ever 
be  saved !  What  a  mercy !  what  wondrous  love ! 
It  is  all  of  Christ.  What  could  we  do,  or  what 
could  we  hope  for  without  him?  How  could  we 
preach,  how  could  we  pray,  how  could  we  live,  or 


644  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1851. 

how  could  we  die,  without  the  Saviour  ?"  The  record 
conveys  but  a  feeble  impression  of  the  force  with 
which  those  words  were  uttered.  This  could  not 
be  reahzed  without  the  presence,  the  appearance, 
the  heavenly  countenance,  the  deep  pathos,  the 
quivering  voice,  and  the  holy  energy  of  the  ven- 
erable man  now  numbered  with  the  dead. 

About  the  same  time,  he  said  one  morning  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Ferris:  "I  have  been  singing.  In 
my  earlier  days  I  was  quite  a  singer;  and  I  have 
been  singing  one  of  our  excellent  hymns,  (one  that 
is  all  glory,)  and  while  singing  I  received  a  won- 
derful blessing."    The  hymn  is  this : — • 

"  He  dies,  the  Friend  of  sinners  dies." 

He  continued  repeating  the  hymn  till  he  came  to 
the  third  verse,  when,  catching  the  inspiration  of 
the  mighty  theme,  he  commenced  singing  with  a 
feeble  voice,  rendered  more  indistinct  by  his  deep 
emotion : — 

*'  Break  off  your  tears,  ye  saints,  and  tell 
How  high  your  great  Deliverer  reigns  ; 

Sing  how  he  spoil'd  the  hosts  of  hell. 
And  led  the  monster  death  in  chains  I" 

Here  his  feelings  overcame  him,  and  he  wept  like 
a  child,  exulting  in  the  certain  prospect  of  a  final 
and  complete  victory  over  the  "  monster,"  so  terrible 
to  the  natural  man.  A  few  days  after,  he  said  to 
the  same  friend:  "I  do  not  depend  so  much  upon 
past  experience,  nor  upon  present  states  of  feeling, 
as  upon  a  clear  inward  witness,  like  the  shining 


1851.] 


LAST   PUBLIC  EXEBCISE. 


645 


light,  that  Jesus  died  for  me ;  that  he  loves  me^  and 
owns  me  for  his  child.  I  am  going  down  to  the 
dust;  but  I  expect  to  go  to  a  better  world.  This 
supports  me.  Sometimes  the  state  of  mj  body 
presses  down  the  mind  so  that  I  do  not  feel  much 
joy;  but  there  is  a  settled  peace,  and  an  assurance 
that  the  Saviom-  is  mine." 

During'  the  autumn  of  1851,  and  also  during 
December  of  that  year,  he  was  able  to  attend 
Chm'ch  quite  regularly  once  a  day.  On  the  fii*st 
Sabbath  in  j^ovember,  he  closed  the  moiTdng  ser- 
vice by  prayer,  or  rather,  hy  praise.  With  feeble 
steps  he  ascended  from  the  altar  into  the  pulpit; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  singing,  he  fell  down  upon 
his  knees,  and  with  laboured  and  broken  utterance 
— ^his  voice  only  the  shattered  remnant  of  what  it 
had  been — ^he  poured  out  such  warm  and  heartfelt 
expressions  of  praise  to  Christ,  as  indicated  the 
depth  of  his  own  feelings,  and  produced  a  powerful 
effect  upon  the  audience.  The  theme  of  the  sermon 
had  been — Christ  precious  to  the  behever,  •  His 
heart  seemed  to  glow  with  the  subject.  The  entire 
audience  were  bathed  in  teal's.  He  arose  from  his 
knees;  an  expression  of  holy  joy  was  upon  his 
countenance ;  the  suppressed  sigh  was  heaving 
almost  every  bosom,  and  tears  were  falling  like 
drops  of  rain.  The  minister  of  half  a  century,  who 
had  so  often  and  so  usefully  occupied  the  sacred 
desk,  slowly  and  silently  descended  from  the  pulpit 
for  the  last  time.    As  the  echo  of  that  prayer  died 


64:6  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 


away  upon  the  ears  of  the  people,  the  sanctuary- 
labours  of  the  sainted  man  of  God  ended  for  ever. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  winter  his  infirmities 
increased  upon  him  to  such  a  degree  that  he  could 
no  longer  visit  the  house  of  God.  The  dropsy,  added 
to  his  old  afflictions,  and  attended  with  a  distressing 
cough,  made  it  evident  that  his  stay  on  earth  was 
short.  Of  this  no  one  was  more  sensible  than  him- 
self, and  he  calmly  occupied  himself  with  setting  his 
house  in  order.  The  writer  was  often  with  him 
and  acted  as  his  amanuensis,  and  also  assisted  him 
in  drawing  up  his  will,  by  which  he  made  a  final 
disposition  of  all  his  earthly  goods,  after  making 
provision  for  his  wife,  to  the  cause  of  Christian 
benevolence.  All  these  items  of  business  were  trans- 
acted with  his  accustomed  clearness  and  precision. 
He  was  truly  setting  his  house  in  order  that  he 
might  die. 

He  talked  freely  and  with  deep  feeling  upon  the  great 
interests  of  the  Church  ;  showing  that,  though  in  daily 
expectation  of  leaving  it,  he  sufiered  no  abatement  of 
interest  in  whatever  concerned  its  weal.  He  also 
discussed  the  deep  questions  of  Christian  theology 
with  his  accustomed  interest  and  perspecuity.  At 
one  time,  referring  to  some  discussions  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Christian  holiness,  he  said:  "Some  brethren 
seem  to  think  that  Mr.  Wesley  could  not  properly  say 
of  himself, — 

*  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me.' 


1852.] 


CONFIDENCE   IN  PEAYEK. 


647 


But  I  can  truly  and  properly  say  it,  for  I  feel  it  in 
my  heart."  At  another  time  he  said:  "I  have  la- 
boured fifty  years  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  have 
had,  especially  in  my  earlier  ministry,  many  hard 
appointments  ;  I  have  had  many  privations  to  endure, 
and  have  suffered  a  good  deal,  and  am  now  so  worn 
out  with  labours,  sufferings,  and  age,  that  I  shall  soon 
go  to  my  long  home.    But,  after  all,  I  can  say : — 

'This  all  my  hope,  and  all  my  plea — 
For  me  the  Saviour  died.' 

And  that  is  all  the  plea  we  need.  O  what  a  mercy 
it  is  that  God  has  given  his  Son  to  redeem  us,  so  that 
we,  vile  wretches,  can  get  to  heaven!" 

While  dictating  a  letter  to  an  old  friend,  who  had 
invited  him  to  the  hospitalities  of  his  house,  he  paused 
in  the  midst  of  his  letter,  overcome  with  emotion, 
and  while  the  tears  were  rolling  down  over  his  cheeks, 
said :  "I  am  going  to  the  dust ;  I  shall  probably  never 
go  out  again  till  I  am  borne  to  my  long  home.  I  shall 
never  see  brother  again  on  earth  ;  but  I  feel  cer- 
tain I  shall  meet,  yea,  and  know  him  too,  in  heaven 
— ^both  him  and  his  dear  wife.  I  have  been  enter- 
tained at  their  house ;  it  has  been  a  home  to  me  ;  they 
have  ministered  to  my  wants.  I  shall  see  them  on 
earth  no  more ;  but  I  shall  see  and  know  them  in 
heaven !"  While  watching  with  him  one  night,  after 
he  had  somewhat  recovered  from  a  distressing  turn,  he 
beckoned  the  writer  to  him  from  the  opposite  side  of 
the  room,  and  said :  "  Brother  Clark,  I  want  you  to 


648  LIFE   AXD   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

pray  for  me  every  day — every  niglit  and  every  morn- 
ing— so  long  as  I  sliall  need  to  have  prayers  offered 
for  me."  Upon  my  remarking  that  I  had,  and  would 
still  pray  for  him,  and  also  that  onr  brethren  remem- 
bered him  in  the  prayer-meeting,  he  replied,  with  a 
look  of  satisfaction,  "  I  thank  yon.  I  have  many 
praying  friends,  I  know.  It  has  often  encouraged 
me  to  think  so.  It  has  helped  me  to  preach  and  to 
bear  my  burdens  when  I  was  well,  and  now  it  helps 
me  in  the  midst  of  my  afflictions." 

"WTien  asked  how  he  felt  about  leaving  the 
Church,  for  which  he  had  toiled  and  laboured  so 
long,  he  said :  "  "When  I  was  first  taken  sick,  more 
than  a  year  ago,  the  thought  that  I  was  cut  off  from 
labouring  for  the  Church,  and  that  I  should  see  the 
dear  brethren  with  whom  I  had  become  acquainted 
no  more  on  earth,  hung  like  a  miUstone  upon  me, 
until  one  night  in  the  winter  of  1851,  as  I  was  kneel- 
ing in  my  bedroom  praying,  about  midnight,  God  so 
impressed  upon  my  mind  that  the  Church  was  not 
mine,  did  not  belong  to  me,  or  depend  upon  me,  that 
I  have  felt  all  that  burden  removed  from  that  hour. 
I  love  the  Church  and  the  brethren  still ;  but  I  leave 
them  in  the  hands  of  God,  and  I  can  say,  '  Thy  wiU  be 
done.' "  Then  fastening  upon  me  an  intense  and 
expressive  look,  he  said,  with  great  emphasis: 
"  The  Church  is  not  mine — it  is  GocTs.  God  has 
taken  care  of  tJie  Church;  God  will  take  care  of  the 
Church  *j  and  he  can  do  it  as  well  without  me  as 
with  meP 


1862.] 


LAST  SACRAMENT. 


649 


A  few  weeks  before  his  departure  several  bretkren, 
by  special  inyitation,  met  to  partake  with  him  of  the 
holy  eucharist.  There  were  present  Eevs.  William 
Thacher,  William  Jewett,  M.  Eichardson,  William 
H.  Ferris,  and  the  writer,  besides  his  own  family  cir- 
cle. The  bishop  was  seated  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
being  nnable  to  kneel  on  account  of  his  limbs  and 
body  being  so  swollen  with  the  di'opsy.  While  the 
elements  were  being  distributed,  he  was  deeply  af- 
fected ;  and  when  the  service  was  concluded,  he  be- 
gan to  sing,  with  a  tone  of  voice  tremulous  with 
age  and  emotion : — 

*'  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow ; 
Praise  him  all  creatures  here  below ; 
Praise  him  above,  ye  heavenly  host ; 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost." 

It  was  an  aifecting  scene,  that  touched  every  heart, 
and  drew  tears  from  every  eye.  But  we  were 
still  more  affected  with  what  followed.  With  his 
voice  often  choked  and  stifled  with  emotion,  he 
said : — 

"'Whither  should  a  sinner  go? 
His  wounds  for  me  stand  open  wide ; 
Only  Jesus  will  I  know, 
And  Jesus  crucified.' 

Brethren,  my  work  is  now  done  on  earth ;  I  am  about 
to  go  hence.  My  body  is  going  to  the  dust;  but  I 
have  a  good  hope  that  my  soul  will  go  to  God  in 
heaven.  I  am  a  poor,  weak,  wretched  creature ;  have 
many  imperfections  and  many  sins ;  but  I  hope  for, 


650 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 


aDd  expect  to  receive,  salvation  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ : — 

'  Other  refuge  have  I  none  ; 

Hangs  my  helpless  soul  on  thee/ 

I  had  laboured  fifty  yeai-s  and  one  month  in  the 
itinerancy  before  I  was  broken  down.  I  have  come 
short  in  many  things;  but  I  have  laboured  sincerely 
and  earnestly.  I  have  suffered  many  privations,  and 
endured  many  trials ;  but,  after  all,  if  I  had  a  hundred 
lives,  I  would  be  willing  to  spend  them  all  in  the 
same  way — believing,  as  I  do,  that  God  called  me  to 
the  work.  Blessed  be  God !  I  have  seen  many  a 
wanderer  reclaimed  and  brought  back  to  him ;  I 
have  seen  many  a  sinner  awakened  and  led  to  Christ 
for  salvation;  and  many,  many  men  and  women 
have  I  attended  upon  dying  beds,  who,  with  their 
last  breath,  shouted  'Glory  to  God!  I  am  washed 
and  made  clean  in  the  atoning  blood  of  the  Lamb.' 
The  recollection  of  these  things  comforts  me  now.  I 
look  back  upon  them  with  more  pleasure  than  crowns 
and  kingdoms,  or  than  all  the  riches  and  honours  of 
the  world  could  ever  have  given. 

"Brethren,  while  you  have  life  and  strength, 
preach;  preach  Christ;  call  poor  lost  sinners  to  re- 
pentance. Bring  them  to  the  Saviour!  He  is  a 
blessed  Saviour !  How  could  we  preach,  or  pray,  or 
labour;  how  could  we  come  to  God,  or  hope  for 
heaven,  were  it  not  for  him  ? 

"  My  time  of  labour  is  now  past,  and  I  am  going  to 


1852.] 


HIS  HUMILITY. 


651 


my  rest.  A  few  years  since,  my  oldest  sister  died. 
She  was  converted  to  God  at  the  same  time  I  was 
and  had  been  a  faithful  Christian  more  than  fifty 
years.    Her  last  words  were : — • 

•  Forever  here  my  rest  shall  be, 

Close  to  thy  bleeding  side ; 
This  all  my  hope,  and  all  my  plea, — 

For  me  the  Saviour  died/ 

This,  too,  is  my  dying  testimony.  I  don't  know  how 
long  God  will  spare  me,  nor  how  soon  he  will  call  me 
away.  But,  brethren,  whether  you  are  present  or 
not,  or  whether  I  can  speak  or  not,  that  is  now,  and  1 
trust  will  be,  my  dying  testimony." 

Here  the  little  remnant  of  his  strength  failed  him, 
and  his  wife,  overwhelmed  with  emotion,  besought 
him  to  delist  from  an  exertion  for  which  his  strength 
was  so  inadequate.  We  soon  after  retired.  The  above 
was  a  scene  not  to  be  forgotten.  It  seemed  as  though 
heaven  itself  was  near.  'No  forms  of  language  and 
no  powers  of  description  can  do  it  justice.  We 
mourned  that  a  father  in  Israel  was  so  soon  to  depart 
from  our  midst;  that  the  Church  was  so  soon  to  be 
bereft  of  a  faithful  and  time-honoured  guide ;  and 
that  the  cause  of  Christ  would  so  soon  lose  one  of  its 
noblest  champions.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  our  tears 
of  sorrow  were  mingled  with  sacred  joy;  for  we  felt 
that  for  one  so  mature  in  Christian  virtues  to  depart 
and  be  with  Christ  would  be  far  better;  we  felt, 
indeed,  that  it  was  fitting  that  the  old  veteran,  who 
had  battled  for  more  than  half  a  century  in  the  front 

28 


652  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

ranks  of  Zion,  one  who  liad  fought  many  a  hard  battle 
and  now  wore  many  a  scar  received  in  his  Master's 
cause,  should  be  released  from  toils  and  sufferings, 
and  enter  into  his  glorious  rest.  !N'ever  did  we  so 
fully  feel  before,  that 

"  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate 

Is  privileged  beyond  the  common  walks 

Of  virtuous  life — quite  on  the  verge  of  heaven." 

Humility  was  a  striking  trait  in  the  character  of 
Bishop  Hedding ;  and  his  piety,  ever  at  the  furthest 
remove  from  ostentation,  was  strongly  marked  by  that 
predominant  trait  in  the  closing  scene.  He  felt  that 
it  was  an  awful  thing  to  die;  but,  through  grace, 
death  was  shorn  of  all  its  terrors.  All  my  depen- 
dence," says  he,  "  is  in  the  atonement.  If  I  had  to 
depend  on  the  covenant  of  works,  or  on  my  own 
faithfulness,  I  should  come  short ;  but  I  depend  alone 
on  Christ,  and  I  feel  that  he  accepts  me.  I  have  no 
doubt  of  it.  lam  as  conscious  of  it  as  Icanjposstbly  he 
of  anything.  I  do  not  believe  that  he  will  cast  me  off. 
I  expect  it  will  be  well  with  me  when  I  go.  While  I 
remain  here,  I  expect  to  suffer  more  and  more.  There 
is  no  more  rest  for  my  body  in  this  hfe ;  but  this  is 
the  will  of  my  Father,  and  I  know  it  is  best.  I  pray 
that  the  cup  may  pass  from  me,  if  it  is  the  will  of 
God  ;  but  he  knows  best,  and  I  submit  all  to  him.  I 
trust  it  will  work  for  me  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory." 

A  few  days  after,  he  said:  "  Christ  is  all  my  hope. 


1852.]         DISTRESSED   BODILY   CONDITION.  653 


I  can  say  nothing  about  my  own  faithfulness ;  I  might 
have  prayed  better,  preached  better,  and  done  more 
good.  But  I  have  been  honest  and  sincere,  and  my 
good  God  accepts  me.  I  ham  no  doubt  of  it ;  and 
here  I  rest !" 

The  26th  of  March  was  a  day  of  great  suffering ; 
but  with  great  calmness  he  said  to  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Ferns:  "I  am  very  sick;  I  suffer  much.  But  why 
should  a  living  man  complain  ?  I  dare  not  pray  or 
wish  to  die.  I  desire  to  lie  in  the  hands  of  God.  I 
know  not  what  I  should  do,  if  I  had  not  the  assurance 
that  God  is  with  me.  I  need  help  from  heaven  every 
moment,  and  I  have  it ;  Ifeel  that  1  ham  it^  and  this 
is  my  support.  I  sometimes  wonder  how  such  a  poor 
wretch,  taken  out  of  the  dust  and  mire  of  pollution 
and  sin,  can  ever  be  made  pure  and  fitted  for  a  holy 
place — to  dwell  with  God  and  Christ,  and  all  the  holy 
beings  of  heaven  forever !  I  could  not  helieve  it  if  the 
glorious  truths  of  the  gospel  were  not  so  wonderfully 
supported  by  astonishing  evidence  !" 

From  this  time  his  difficulty  of  breathing  continued 
to  increase,  and  his  di'opsy  became  more  distressing. 
He  could  not  lie  down  without  experiencing  a  sense 
of  suffocation  that  required  immediate  change ;  and 
thus,  whole  days  and  nights  were  passed  in  the  most 
excruciating  distress,  and  almost  without  sleep. 

March  the  30th,  I  made  my  usual  call  upon  him, 
and  found  him  in  a  most  wretched  bodily  condition. 
The  throbbing  of  the  arteries  in  his  neck,  occasioned 
by  the  affection  of  his  heart,  had  become  intense. 


654  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

He  was  so  bloated  that  his  clothes  could  no  longer 
be  put  upon  him ;  his  skin  was  so  distended  and  in- 
flamed that  every  motion  was  attended  with  excruci- 
ating pain.  In  the  hollow  of  his  limbs,  at  the  knee 
joint,  the  skin  had  burst,  and  water  was  freely  run- 
ning from  the  aperture.  His  difficulty  of  breathing 
was  very  great,  from  the  collection  of  water  upon  his 
chest  and  lungs.  And  in  addition  to  all  this,  he  had 
been  unable  to  get  any  sleep  for  several  days ;  and  for 
want  of  this,  he  could  neither  keep  his  eyes  open,  nor 
hold  up  his  head.  He  presented  the  most  pitiable 
spectacle  of  bodily  suffering ;  it  haunted  me  for  days, 
and  disturbed  my  slumbers  in  the  night.  When  I 
approached  him  he  raised  his  head,  seized  me  by 
the  hand,  which  he  held  for  some  time,  and  then 
feebly  gasped : — "  Brother  Clark,  I  am  in  a  most 
miserable  condition ;  but,  through  the  mercy  of  my 
blessed  Redeemer,  I  trust  I  shall  overcome  at 
last." 

The  very  next  day,  (March  31,)  after  referring  to 
the  sudden  and  terrible  attack  he  suffered  fifteen 
months  before,  he  said  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Ferris: 
"With  the  stroke,  God  gave  me  wonderful  grace; 
and  it  has  been  with  me  ever  since.  My  prospect 
has  been  clear  ever  since.  ISTot  a  day,  not  an  hour, 
not  a  moment,  have  I  had  any  doubt  or  tormenting 
fear  of  death.  I  have  been  at  times  so  that  it  was 
doubtful  whether  I  would  live  five  minutes ;  but  all 
was  bright  and  glorious.  I  have  not  had  joy  all  the 
time;  but  great  support  and  comfort.    But  to-day 


1852.] 


WONDERFUL  GRACE. 


655 


I  have  been  wonderfully  hlessed.  I  was  reflecting 
upon  the  wonder  of  God's  mercy^ — how  a  jnst,  and 
infinite,  and  holy  God  could  take  such  vile  creatures 
to-  dwell  with  him  in  so  holy  a  place — so  unworthy,  so 
sinful,  so  polluted ;  and  I  thought  of  his  great  mercy 
to  me — ^how  much  he  had  done  for  me ;  and  I  had 
such  glorious  views  of  the  atonement  by  Christ — his 
sufferings  and  the  glory  that  should  follow — -that  my 
soul  was  filled  in  a  wonderful  manner.  I  have 
served  God  more  than  fifty  years ;  I  have  generally 
had  peace ;  but  I  never  saw  such  glory  before — such 
light^  such  clearness^  such  heauty  !  O,  I  want  to  tell 
it  to  all  the  world !    O,  had  I  a  trumpet  voice, 

*  Then  would  I  tell  to  sinners  round 
What  a  DEAR  Saviour  I  have  found.' " 

Here  his  emotion  overcame  him,  and  choked  his 
utterance  for  a  moment.  ..."  But  I  cannot. 
I  never  shall  preach  again — ^never  shall  go  over 
the  mountains  and  through  the  valleys,  the  woods, 
and  the  swamps,  to  tell  of  Jesus  any  more.  But, 
O  what  glory  I  feel !  it  shines  and  burns  all  through 
me ;  it  came  upon  me  like  the  rushing  of  a  mighty 
wind,  as  on  the  day  of  Pentecost."  "Alas!"  says 
the  narrator,  "the  jpen  can  never  represent  this 
scene — the  broken  accent,  the  laboured  efibrt,  the 
deep  feeling,  the  holy  fervom-,  the  uplifted  and 
radiant  countenance,  the  eye  that  gleamed  with 
unearthly  lustre,  the  tears  choking  the  utterance, 
and  the  whole  frame  shaking  with  emotion;  these 


656  LIFE   AXD    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

cannot  be  represented,  but  will  never  be  forgotten. 
I  retired,  resolved  to  be  a  better  Christian  and  a 
more  faithful  minister." 

About  this  time  the  Rev.  Dr.  Peck,  in  company 
with  Bishop  Janes,  visited  Poughkeepsie  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  a  final  earthly  interview  with 
Bishop  Hedding.  The  account  of  the  visit  can  be 
best  given  in  the  doctor's  own  words : — 

"  On  Sabbath  morning  we  entered  his  room,  and 
were  happy  to  find  him  much  relieved  by  the  dis- 
charge of  a  large  quantity  of  water,  which  had 
forced  an  opening  through  the  skin  of  his  legs.  He 
had  rested  tolerably  well,  and  was  able  to  converse 
for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  at  a  time.  He  was  feeble 
in  body,  but  strong  in  spirit.  "When  animated,  his 
eye  resumed  its  natural  expressiveness,  and  he 
seemed  to  have  lost  nothing  of  his  great  intellectual 
strength. 

"  Upon  entering  the  room  he  reached  out  his 
hand,  giving  two  fingers  to  Bishop  Janes,  and  indi- 
cating that  the  other  two  were  reserved  for  us. 
When  he  had  in  this  manner  taken  our  hands,  he 
said,  '  I  am  more  glad  to  see  you  than  I  can  possibly 
express.  I  am  full  of  disease — old  diseases  and  new 
ones  are  upon  me,  and  I  am  prostrated.  I  am  so 
feeble  that  I  cannot  talk  much.  I  would  be  glad 
to  ask  you  many  questions  about  the  conferences 
and  the  preachers,  but  my  strength  will  not  admit.' 
Pausing  a  little,  he  then  resumed  his  remarks  and 
said :  '  One  thing  I  wish  to  say  now,  lest  I  should 


1852.] 


REMARKS   TO   DR.  PECK. 


657 


not  be  able  to  saj  it  at  any  future  time,  for  I  may 
drop  away  at  any  moment — and  that  is,  that  God 
has  been  wonderfully  good  to  me ;  his  goodness  has 
been  overwhelming — overwhelming.'  Here  his  ut- 
terance was  stifled  by  emotion,  and  he  wept  freely. 
When  he  recovered  himself  he  resumed :  '  To  think 
that  such  a  poor  miserable  sinner  as  I  am  should 
be  so  favoured,  so  filled  with  the  goodness  of  God,  so 
completely  saved  from  the  fear  of  death,  so  filled 
with  the  hope  of  a  glorious  immortality !'  Here 
again  his  utterance  failed,  and  the  whole  frame  of 
the  once  strong  man  seemed  on  the  point  of  falHng 
to  pieces  with  emotion.  'Don't  weep  so,  husband,' 
said  his  excellent  lady,  '  you  will  become  exhausted.' 
'I  am  not  w^eeping  for  sorrow,'  added  he,  'but  for 
joy  and  thankfulness.' 

"  We  now  took  leave  of  this  truly  sublime  scene 
until  evening,  when  we  had  the  favom*  of  another 
interview.  He  was  now  seated  in  an  easy  chair, 
and  consecutively  uttered  a  series  of  sentences  which 
seemed  almost  as  weighty  as  though  they  had  come 
from  the  land  of  spirits.  '  I  suffer  severely,'  said  he ; 
'  and  although  I  have  no  fear  of  death,  I  have  some 
dread  of  pain.  The  flesh  repines ;  the  flesh  of  our 
Saviour  repined.  He  said,  "  O,  my  Father,  if  it  be 
possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me;  nevertheless, 
not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done."  Could  I  live, 
I  should  desire  to  do  so,  only  that  I  might  preach 
Christ  and  him  crucified.  O,  to  preach  Christ! 
I  would  rather  preach  Christ  anywhere — on  the 


658 


LIFE    AND   TIMES   OF  HEDDING. 


LI 862. 


hardest  circuit — than  to  have  all  the  wealth  and  the 
honours  of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world. 

"  0  for  a  trumpet  voice, 

On  all  the  world  to  call, 
And  bid  their  hearts  rejoice 

In  Him  who  died  for  all." ' 

"  Here  he  paused,  and  for  some  time  gave  vent 
to  his  feelings  in  tears.  Recovering  the  power  of 
utterance,  he  proc-eeded :  '  When  I  think  of  the  dear 
preachers  with  whom  I  have  become  acquainted  all 
over  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  it  seems 
hard  not  to  be  able  to  visit  them  again.  But  the 
will  of  the  Lord  be  done ;  my  will  is  lost  in  his  will. 
I  have  no  will  of  my  own.'  After  a  short  pause, 
he  said :  '  Fifty-two  years  ago,  last  December,  I  gave 
up  my  all  to  God,  and  I  have  never  taken  back 
the  gift.  I  have  been  a  most  fallible  creature,  and 
have  committed  many  involuntary  offences,  but 
have  never  wilfully  departed  from  God.  I  have 
always  needed  the  atonement  of  Christ,  and  have 
trusted  in  that  alone  for  the  forgiveness  of  all  my 
short-comings.  I  feel  that  I  can  sing  with  Mr. 
Wesley — 

"  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me." 

I  used  to  wonder  how  it  could  be  that  Christ  could 
have  mercy  upon  such  a  poor  miserable  sinner  as 
I  am,  and  save  me.  There  was  a  kind  of  mist  over 
the  subject ;  but  within  a  few  days  all  this  has  been 
cleared  away.    I  now  see  such  goodness,  such  glory, 


1852.] 


THE   CLOSING  SCENE. 


659 


such  power — such  jpower'' — repeating  the  word  with 
great  emphasis — 'in  the  Kedeemer,  that  there  is 
now  no  difficulty  in  it !'  We  remarked,  '  Your 
spiritual  vision  is  now  clear.'  '  Yes,'  responded  he, 
'it  is  all  plain  now.'  During  the  conversation  he 
remarked:  'Since  this  dreadful  disease  struck  me, 
more  than  a  year  ago,  I  have  not  had  one  really 
dark  hour,  or  one  pang  of  guilt.' 

"  We  retired  from  the  room  with  the  strongest 
feelings  of  admiration  of  the  humility,  the  deep 
and  unaffected  piety,  and  the  gigantic  intellectual 
strength  of  our  venerable  senior  bishop.  We  have 
known  and  admired  his  real  greatness  from  the 
period  of  our  first  acquaintance  with  him.  But  if 
he  was  great  in  the  field  of  action,  he  is  still  greater 
in  the  hour  of  suffering,  and  in  the  prospect  of 
death. 

"  We  must  pause — our  heart  is  fall.  God  be 
praised  for  this  fresh  illustration  of  the  majesty  and 
power  of  true  rehgion." 

The  suffering  days  of  the  revered  man  of  God 
were  now  drawing  to  a  close.  His  sufferings  gradu- 
ally abated ;  his  breathing  became  less  difficult,  and 
he  was  able  to  lie  down  and  rest  with  some  degree  of 
comfort.  His  quietude,  however,  was  not  that  from 
which  the  system  rallies  to  victory,  and  triumphs 
over  disease ;  but  that  in  which  its  exhausted  powers, 
fully  spent  in  the  conflict,  sink  to  rally  no  more. 
He  was  not  merely  calm,  but  cheerful;  and  often 
exhibited  flashes  of  that  genial  sprighthness,  humour 


660  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1862. 

and  wit,  so  characteristic  of  him  in  earlier  days. 
Yet  a  heavenly  atmosphere  reigned  around  him. 
His  work  was  done ;  he  was  tarrying  for  a  moment 
on  the  bank  of  Jordan,  waiting  permission  from 
his  Master  to  pass  over. 

That  permission  was  not  long  delayed.  About 
three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  April 
a  change  took  place,  betokening  the  near  approach 
of  death.  Early  in  the  morning  his  sufferings  were 
great;  his  extremities  were  cold,  and  his  death- 
agony  was  upon  him;  but  his  intellectual  powers — 
consciousness,  perception,  memory,  reason — were 
unaffected.  Several  Christian  friends  witnessed  his 
dying  struggles  and  the  glorious  triumph  of  his 
abiding  faith.  The  Eev.  M.  Richardson  came  in, 
and  inquired  whether  his  prospect  was  clear;  he 
replied  with  great  emphasis :  "  O,  yes,  yes^  yes  ! 
I  have  been  wonderfully  sustained  of  late,  beyond 
the  usual  degree."    After  a  pause  he  continued : — 

"  *  My  suflF  'ring  time  will  soon  be  o'er ; 
Then  I  shall  sigh  and  weep  no  more ; 
My  ransom'd  soul  shall  soar  away, 
To  sing  thy  praise  in  endless  day.' 

I  trust  m  Christy  and  he  does  not  disappoint  me. 
I  feel  him^  I  enjoy  him^  and  I  looTc  forwa/rd  to  a/n 
inheritance  in  his  MngdomP 

He  looked  at  his  hands,  and  calmly  marked  the 
progress  death  was  making.  Feeling  that  death 
was  fast  approaching,  he  made  repeated  efforts  to 
straighten  himself  and  to  adjust  his  limbs  in  the 


1862.] 


THE   DEATH-BED  LESSON. 


661 


bed.  Tlien,  after  remaining  quiet  a  few  moments, 
summoning  all  his  strength  and  elevating  his  voice, 
he  said :  "I  trust  in  God  and  feel  safe !" 

The  Kev.  Mr.  Ferris  said  to  him, — "Bishop,  you 
are  almost  over  Jordan."  He  looked  calmly  up, 
and  answered,  "Yes;"  then  raising  both  hands,  he 
said,  scarcely  above  a  whisper,  "Glory,  glory! 
Glory  to  God!  Glory  to  God!  Glory  to  God! 
Glory!"  Awhile  after,  he  was  asked  if  death  had 
any  terrors;  he  replied:  "JSTo,  none  whatever;- my 
peace  is  made  with  God.  I  do  not  expect  to  live 
till  sunset ;  but  I  have  no  choice ;  I  leave  it  all  with 
God."  Then,  placing  his  hand  upon  his  breast,  he 
said :  "  I  am  happy — filled." 

After  shifting  his  position  several  times  without 
finding  relief  from  his  sufierings,  he  broke  out : — 

"  '  When  pain  o'er  my  weak  flesh  prevails, 
With  lamb-like  patience  arm  my  breast; 

When  grief  my  wounded  soul  assails, 
In  lowly  meekness  may  I  rest.' 

Subsequently,  he  said :  "  My  God  is  my  best  friend, 
and  I  trust  in  him  with  all  my  heart.  I  have  trusted 
in  him  for  more  than  fifty  years."  Then,  after  paus- 
ing for  breath,  he  added :  "  '  Because  I  live,  ye  shall 
live  also.'  What  a  promise !"  Soon  after  this  his 
powers  of  speech  failed ;  his  breathing  grew  tremu- 
lous and  short;  life  ebbed  gradually  away,  and  at 
last  its  weary  wheels  stood  still. 

Thus  passed  away  one  of  the  purest  and  noblest 
spirits  of  our  earth.    He  died  as  might  have  been 


662  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

augured  from  his  character  and  life ;  he  died  as  the 
Christian  only  can  die.  Up  to  the  last  moment 
of  earthly  communion,  he  was  calm  and  serene. 
Eternity  was  breaking  upon  his  view,  but  he  knew 
in  whom  he  had  believed.  To  see  the  Christian, 
who,  with  the  intellect  of  a  philosopher  and  the 
wisdom  of  a  sage,  had  scanned  the  evidences  and 
the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  to  their  very  depths ;  to 
see  such  a  one  maturing  for  the  skies,  going  forth 
to  the  last  conflict  with  no  misgivings  of  spirit — 
calmly,  firmly,  constantly  trusting  in  the  atonement 
of  his  Saviour ;  to  mark  his  trembling  humility,  the 
low  estimate  he  placed  uj)on  his  services  in  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  upon  his  Christian  piety — 
these  were  privileges  of  no  ordinary  moment,  and 
afforded  lessons  of  indescribable  value.  We  have 
often  visited  the  dying  couch  of  the  saint  of  God, 
and  there  witnessed  the  triumph  of  the  Christian 
faith ;  but  never  before  did  sickness  and  feebleness 
seem  to  enshrine  such  loveliness,  or  death  such 
beauty.  The  full  significance  of  that  couplet  of 
Coleridge  seemed  to  be  realized : — 

"  Is  that  his  death-bed,  where  the  Christian  lies? 
No  !  't  is  not  his  ;  't  is  death  itself  there  dies  I" 

The  funeral  services  took  place  on  the  14th,  in 
the  Washington-street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Bishops  Waugh  and  Morris  were  present,  and  also 
a  large  number  of  preachers — amounting  to  nearly  a 
hundred.    An  appropriate  and  affecting  discourse 


1852.1 


FUNERAL  SERVICES. 


663 


was  preached  by  Bishop  Waugh.  The  whole  scene 
was  one  of  deep  and  solemn  interest.  The  speaker 
was  often  overcome  with  deep,  unutterable  emo- 
tion; and  we  doubt  whether  there  was  a  heart  in 
that  vast  assembly  that  did  not  beat  in  sympathy 
with  him.  Indeed,  the  congregation  often  seemed 
completely  overwhelmed  with  emotion;  and  tears 
were  poured  out  like  water.  We  were  constantly 
reminded  of  the  burial  of  the  first  Christian  martyr 
— "And  devout  men  carried  Stephen  to  his  burial, 
and  made  great  lamentation  over  him." 

The  body  was  at  first  deposited  in  the  family 
vault  of  Henry  Storms,  Esq.,  but  has  since  been 
removed  to  the  beautiful  cemetery  on  the  eastern 
banks  of  the  Hudson,  just  below  the  city  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  a  noble  monument  has  been  erected 
to  his  memory.  At  the  request  of  the  executors^ — • 
the  Rev.  L.  M.  Yincent  and  the  Eev.  William 
Jewett — the  epitaph  which  appears  on  the  following 
page  was  prepared  by  the  writer,  and  has  been  in- 
scribed upon  the  monument.  A  view  of  this  monu- 
ment, engraved  upon  steel,  together  with  the  inscrip- 
tions, appeared  in  the  November  number  of  the 
Ladies'  Repository  for  1854.  Here  all  that  was 
mortal  of  our  venerated  bishop  now  slumbers,  waiting 
the  resurrection  of  the  just. 


664  LIFE   AND    TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 


BEDDING'S  MOIUMENT. 

On  the  side  fronting  to  the  west  and  toward  the  river, 
is  the  simple  inscription  within  a  circular  wreath : — 

ELIJAH  HEDDING,  D.  D. 
BoEN  JrnfE  7,  1780. 
Died  Apeil  9,  1852. 

On  the  side  of  the  monument  fronting  to  the  east  is 
the  following : — 

This  Moistument 
has  been  erected  as  a  memorial  of  one  whose  name  is 
honoured  in  the  Church  of  Christ. 
He  was  for  fifty-one  years  an  Itinerant  Minister,  and  for  twenty- 
eight  a  Bishop,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  his  earher  ministry  he  performed  an  astonishing  amount 
of  labour,  and  endured  many  hardships. 
He  was  a  man  of  unaffected  simplicity  and  dignity  of  manners, 
of  deep  and  consistent  piety,  of  sound  and  discriminating 
judgment;  a  well-read  Theologian,  an  able  Divine; 
a  pattern  of  Christian  propriety  and  integrity, 
and  a  model  Bishop. 
As  an  expounder  of  Ecclesiastical  Law  and  Discipline,  he  has  had 
no  superiors ;  and  his  judicial  decisions  are  regarded 

with  profound  veneration  in  the  Church. 
His  last  sickness  was  protracted  and  painful,  but  was 
endured  with  a  constant  resignation. 
His  last  hours  were  peaceful  and  triumphant ;  future  generations 
will  rise  up  to  bless  his  memory. 


1852.] 


PERSONAL  APPEARANCE. 


665 


CHAPTEK  XXI. 

ESTIMATE  OF  THE  CHARACTER  AND  SERVICES  OF  BISHOP  HEDDING, 

Concluding  our  Work  — Bodily  Appearance  of  Bishop  Hedding  — Habits 
and  Manner  of  Life  — Social  Qualities  —  Care  of  the  Feelings  and  Repu- 
tation of  Others  —  A  Keen  Observer  of  Human  Character  —  Cast  of  his 
Intellect  —  His  Literary  and  Scientific  Attainments  —  Character  as  a 
Divine  —  Character  as  a  Preacher  —  Character  as  a  Presiding  Officer  and 
an  Expounder  of  Ecclesiastical  Law  —  Tone  and  Character  of  his  Piety  — 
General  Excellence  and  Harmony  of  Character  —  Results  witnessed  in 
his  Life  and  Labours  —  His  Memory, 

Our  labour  thus  far  has  been  one  of  absorbing  interest : 
our  feelings  have  become  so  deeply  interested  in  it, 
and  the  pleasure  attendant  upon  it  has  been  so  un- 
alloyed, that  we  almost  instinctively  shrink  back 
when  we  find  ourselves  so  near  its  conclusion.  Yet 
have  we  only  one  more  duty  to  complete,  and  then 
our  delineation  of  the  life  of  Bishop  Hedding  must 
be  left  to  the  scrutiny  and  judgment  of  the  Church 
and  the  world.  That  duty  is  to  attempt,  in  our  con- 
cluding chapter,  a  sketch  of  his  personal  appearance, 
and  a  brief  estimate  of  his  character  and  services. 

1.  In  Bishop  Hedding  there  was  a  noble  develop- 
ment of  the  physical  man.  "Wlien  in  his  prime  he 
measured  six  feet  in  height,  and  his  frame  was  of  fine 
proportionate  development.  In  later  years  he  in- 
clined to  corpulency,  and  probably  from  the  time  he 
w^as  a  young  man  he  weighed  considerably  over  two 


666 


LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF  HEDDING. 


[1852. 


Imndred  pounds;  his  usual  weight,  in  later  years, 
being  about  two  hundred  and  twentj-five  pounds. 
His  features  were  too  coarse  to  be  beautiful,  but  there 
was  a  fine  manly  expression,  a  noble,  commanding 
mien,  that  would  instantly  excite  admiration  and 
respect.  His  head  was  one  of  those  massive  Web- 
sterian  conformations,  that  are  ever  reminding  one  of 
the  antique  models  we  have  seen.  His  complexion 
was  naturally  light,  but  had  been  rendered  swarthy 
by  exposure  and  disease  ;  and  in  his  temperament  the 
sanguine  and  nervous  predominated.  His  eyebrows 
were  heavy ;  and  his  eyes,  which  were  of  light  blue, 
bordering  upon  gray,  were  neither  very  large  nor 
very  prominent.  The  expression  of  his  countenance 
would  indicate  him  to  be  a  man  of  great  evenness  of 
temper,  of  calm  and  clear  dehberation,  not  easily  ruf- 
fled or  thrown  from  his  equipoise ;  of  keen  perception, 
and  of  solid  good  sense.  You  might  not  have  caught 
the  fancy  that  he  was  an  amateur  of  the  fine  arts,  or 
that  he  would  be  easily  fascinated  with  the  beautiful 
imaginings  of  the  poets,  or  captivated  with  the  flow- 
ers of  rhetoric ;  but  you  would  have  been  impressed 
with  the  conviction  that  he  would  be  a  somewhat 
severe,  though  a  very  rehable  critic  in  them  all. 
You  would,  also,  unhesitatingly  have  assigned  to 
him  a  prominent  position  in  any  of  the  ordinary 
avocations  of  life.  As  an  agriculturist,  you  would 
expect  that  his  operations  would  be  upon  a  more 
philosophical  basis  than  those  of  his  neighbours ;  that 
there  would  be  a  wiser  expenditure  of  labour,  and 


1852.] 


HABITS    OF  LIFE. 


667 


that  lie  would  realize  more  ample  returns.  Thus, 
whatever  he  undertook,  you  would  expect  to  see  him 
prosecuting,  slowly,  it  might  be,  but  always  surely,  to 
its  legitimate  results.  His  countenance  usually  wore 
a  quiet,  benignant  expression ;  and  it  was  only  when 
it  was  irradiated  by  the  workings  of  the  giant  mind 
within,  as  that  mind  was  roused  up  to  grapple  with 
some  subject  worthy  of  its  powers,  that  its  power  of 
expression  was  fully  realized.  His  motions  were 
naturally  deliberate,  and  rather  slow — ^but  never  so 
slow  as  to  indicate  lethargy ;  for  though  his  frame  was 
massive,  it  was  formed  for  activity  and  endurance. 

2.  Bishop  Hedding's  habits  of  life  were  exceedingly 
plain  and  simple.  Everything  about  him — his  dress, 
his  travelling  equipage,  his  house,  his  furniture,  his 
garden — exhibited  a  pattern  of  neatness  and  studied 
propriety.  If  anything  about  his  person  attracted 
your  attention  at  all,  it  would  be  because  of  its 
fitness  or  utility ;  the  thought  of  display  or  show 
seemed  never  to  have  once  entered  his  mind.  His 
manners — exceedingly  courteous — partook  of  the  same 
simplicity.  They  were  frank,  cordial,  open — never 
constrained.  It  was,  however,  a  simplicity  that  was 
never  wanting  in  dignity, — a  simplicity  that  never 
"  let  him  down"  when  in  the  presence  of  the  noble, 
nor  gave  license  to  undue  familiarity  when  among 
those  of  a  different  character.  It  was  natural,  and 
so  well  established  in  all  his  thoughts  and  habits,  so 
completely  harmonious  with  all  his  feelings,  that  he 
could  never  be  surprised  out  of  it.    It  had  no  kinship 


668  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1862. 

to  that  boorishness  wliicli  some  deem  "primitive 
simplicity ;"  for  its  grace  commanded  respect  even  in 
tlie  most  refined  circles.  ^N'or  had  it  any  kinship  to 
that  want  of  character  which  divests  a  man  of 
authority,  and  which  is  so  pervious  to  the  sly,  but 
designing  shafts  of  wit  and  ridicule ;  for  though  never 
laid  aside,  it  never  divested  him  of  the  highest  dig- 
nity while  presiding  over  conferences  and  popular 
assemblies ;  nor  did  any  one — ^unless  his  perceptions 
were  exceedingly  obtuse — ever  dream  that  there  was 
to  be  found  in  it  anything  with  which  it  would  be 
safe  to  trifle. 

3.  The  social  qualities  of  Bishop  Hedding  were 
of  a  high  order.  Few  men  enjoyed  society  more 
than  he  did.  His  conversational  powers  were  supe- 
rior. He  had  read  much,  and  his  observation  and 
experience  had  been  extensive  and  varied.  From 
the  rich  storehouse  that  had  been  thus  filled,  he 
could  draw  forth  incident  and  anecdote,  fact  and 
philosophy,  criticism  and  even  poetry,  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  would  at  once  interest  and  benefit 
the  intelligent  listener.  He  often  plied  his  brethren 
with  whom  he  was  on  familiar  terms  with  knotty 
questions  in  philology,  theology,  &c.,  and  thus  not 
only  exercised  their  powers  at  the  moment,  but 
gave  them  something  to  think  of  afterward.  In- 
deed, it  was  not  unfrequently  the  case,  that  in  this 
way  solid  and  useful  information  was  imparted. 
This  habit  of  questioning  was  first  formed  when  he 
was  labouring  in  ITew-Hampshire  in  the  early  part 


1852.] 


SOCIAL  QUALITIES. 


669 


of  his  ministry,  and  was  then  employed  as  a  means 
of  solving  the  obstacles  he  encomitered  in  the  prose- 
cution of  his  studies.  It  proved  then  of  incalculable 
advantage  to  him,  and  he  never  whoUv  relinquished 
it.  He  told  a  story  usually  with  fine  eiffect  in  social 
intercourse,  and  relished  a  joke  as  highly,  and  could 
laugh  as  heartily,  as  most  men ;  but  never  indulged 
in  or  gave  license  to  that  which  was  low  or  debas- 
ing in  its  character.  Connected  with  these  other 
qualities,  there  was  a  genial  wit  and  humour  about 
him,  and  an  open-heartedness  of  sympathy,  that  made 
him  a  most  companionable  man.  He  had  a  keen 
perception  of  the  ludicrous,  and  would  often,  on 
fitting  occasions,  give  utterance  to  most  amusing 
fancies.  This  genial  and  innocent  play  of  the 
imagination  gleamed  out  even  amid  the  triumphs 
of  his  faith  in  his  last  sickness,  and  continued  almost 
to  the  last  day  of  his  life.  In  illusti*ation  of  this, 
we  give  the  following  anecdote,  fm-nished  by  the 
Eev.  W.  H.  Ferris: — "About  ten  days  before  his 
death  I  called  to  see  him.  He  was  sitting  in  his 
rotary-chair — a  great  sufferer,  and  unable  to  he 
down.  Weary  with  watchfulness  and  worn  out  with 
pain  he  would  occasionally  fall  asleep,  and  as  he 
did  so,  his  head  and  the  weight  of  his  body  would 
fall  a  little  on  one  side,  when  the  chair  would  swing 
round  and  wake  him  up.  This  occurred  several 
times.  At  last  he  aroused,  and  looking  up  with  a 
smile,  he  said,  '  Brother,  can't  you  fix  this  chair  so 
that  it  won't  turn  round  V    I  got  a  cord  and  lashed 


670  LIFE    AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

it  fast.  He  responded,  '  Thank  jou,  that  is  it and 
in  a  moment  his  head  sank  down,  and  he  was  fast 
asleep.  I  qnietly  withdrew.  About  five  days  after, 
and  about  the  same  number  before  his  triumphant 
death,  while  in  his  room,  I  observed  that  his  efforts 
to  sleep  were  defeated  by  the  same  rotary  motion 
of  his  favom-ite  and  familiar  chair,  and  said  to  him, 
'Bishop,  allow  me  to  fasten  yom*  chair  so  that  it 
will  not  move.  He  gave  his  head  that  peculiar 
toss  so  often  observed  when  anything  quaint  or 
amusing  struck  him,  and  a  smile  lit  np  his  coun- 
tenance as  he  hastily  replied,  '  Xo,  no,  brother ;  you 
fixed  it  the  other  day,  and  I  thought  I  should  like 
it,  but  I  had  to  have  it  unfastened  again.  The 
fact  is,  I  never  could  endv/re  to  ride  a  hobbled  horse? 
In  two  minutes  that  manly  head  sunk  in  sleep 
again,  and  the  unholMed  hoi'se  tm-ned,  perhaps  for 
the  hundredth  time,  and  awoke  him." 

These  social  qualities  made  him  the  genial  com- 
panion of  children.  Though  not  blessed  with  any 
of  his  own,  yet  was  he  unusually  fond  of  them ; 
and  every  little  boy  and  girl  in  his  neighbourhood 
knew  and  loved  "  the  bishop,"  as  they  called  him. 
Only  let  one  of  a  group  of  school  children  exclaim, 
"There  comes  the  bishop!"  and  it  was  a  signal 
that  wi-eathed  sunny  faces  in  smiles,  and  called  forth 
rival  efforts  to  be  foremost  in  the  friendly  saluta- 
tion that  was  sure  to  follow.  The  writer  will  not 
soon  forget  the  scene  that  greeted  his  eyes  when, 
the  morning  after  the  bishop's  death,  he  took  his 


1862.]  CAREFULNESS   OF   REPUTATION.  671 

little  children  around  to  have  them  look  upon  that 
countenance,  then  calm  in  death,  but  which  had 
so  often  beamed  upon  them  in  Hfe,  in  order  that 
they  might  learn  at  once  the  lessons  of  our  mortality 
and  of  our  holy  faith.  Not  less  than  a  dozen  chil- 
dren were  hanging  around  the  gate  in  front  of  the 
house,  and  earnestly  besought  the  privilege  of  once 
more  seeing  "  the  bishop."  Tlieir  wish  was  gratified, 
and  they  gazed  upon  his  lifeless  form  with  an  expres- 
sion of  sorrow  which  told  that  they  felt  they  had 
lost  a  friend.  Among  the  sincere  mourners  that 
lamented  the  death  of  this  godly  man  were  very 
many  little  children. 

Bishop  Hedding  was  also  firm  and  abiding  in  his 
friendships.  'No  one  who  had  honourably  gained 
his  friendship,  and  had  done  nothing  to  forfeit  it, 
ever  had  reason  to  question  the  continuance  of  his 
sentiments  of  brotherly  confidence  and  aff'ection. 
Friendship  was  with  him  too  sacred  a  thing  to  be 
employed  in  any  commerce  for  selfish  ends,  either 
in  its  origin  or  continuance. 

He  was  also  exceedingly  courteous,  careful  to 
make  proper  recognition  of  a  friend,  careful  to  make 
proper  acknowledgment  of  the  courtesies  shown  him, 
careful  to  treat  no  one  with  neglect,  while  at  the 
same  time  his  courtesy  was  too  sincere  and  unafiected 
to  permit  him  to  burden  any  one  with  officious 
attentions.  These  elements  of  .the  true  gentleman 
shone  conspicuously  in  his  social  character. 

4.  While  Bishop  Hedding,  in  social  intercourse, 


672  LIFE   AXD   TIMES    OF    HEDDING.  [1852. 

was  exceedingly  careful  of  the  feelings  of  those 
present,  lie  was  equally  careful  of  the  reputation 
of  those  who  were  absent.  Of  the  reputation  of 
Christian  ministers  he  was  particularly  careful.  In 
a  letter  to  the  author,  Dr.  Paddock,  referring  to 
this  point,  says  of  him,  "K  othei-s  indulged  in  inju- 
rious reflections,  the  bishop  would  be  sure  to  throw  in 
some  kind  word  with  a  view  to  shield  the  interested 
party.  He,  doubtless,  sometimes  spoke  approvingly 
of  a  pulpit  performance,  rather  to  forestall  criticism 
than  to  hold  it  up  as  a  model.  Indeed,  I  do  not 
remember  to  have  heard  him  speak  disparagingly  of  a 
brother's  public  performance;  and,  to  avoid  doing  it, 
he  sometimes  displayed  the  most  amusing  dexterity. 

"At  one  of  our  conferences  it  was  announced, 
at  the  close  of  a  day's  session,  that  a  venerable  and 
honoured  brother  would  preach  in  the  evening. 
Fatigued  as  the  bishop  was,  he  deemed  it  his  duty, 
in  view  of  the  age  and  position  of  the  brother,  to 
attend  the  service.  The  discourse  was  hortatory 
and  impassioned  in  a  very  high  degree,  but  was 
far  enough  from  being  a  sermon^  as  that  word  is 
ordinarily  used.  Of  this  fact  no  one  could  be  more 
sensible  than  the  bishop ;  but  he  was  evidently  deter- 
mined that  no  one  should  hear  him  speak  of  it  dis- 
paragingly. Stepping  into  his  lodgings,  which  were 
near  the  church,  he  was  followed  by  some  half  a 
dozen  or  more  of  the  preachers ;  some  of  them  quar- 
tered at  the  same  house,  and  others  coming  in,  as 
the  bishop  evidently  apprehended,  to  hear  what  he 


1862.]      A   KEEN   OBSERVER   OF   CHARACTER.  673 

would  say  about  the  sermon.  He  waited  for  no 
queries,  not  even  indeed  to  be  seated,  but  standing 
out  in  the  midst  of  the  floor,  he  lifted  his  right  arm 
with  his  hand  slightly  clenched,  and  looking  round 
upon  the  company,  said,  '[N'ow,  brethren,  was  not 
that  real!''  Of  course  no  one  ventured  to  ask  an 
explanation,  while  each  was  left  to  conjecture  for 
himself  what  the  bishop  might  mean  by  the  unasso- 
ciated  adjective." 

5.  He  was  also  a  keen  observer  of  human  charac- 
ter. He  read  men  as  easily  as  most  men  read  books. 
He  was  rarely  imposed  upon  by  the  designing;  he 
was  rarely  deceived  as  to  the  true  character  of  a 
man.  iTot  only  was  this  penetration  striking  on 
the  conference  floor,  and  in  relation  to  ministers 
with  whom  he  had  more  constant  intercourse,  but 
in  relation  to  any  one  of  the  multitude  encountered 
in  public  places,  or  on  the  great  thoroughfares  of 
ti*avel.  "  In  this  respect,"  says  Dr.  Paddock,  in  the 
letter  just  referred  to,  "I  have  seldom,  perhaps 
never,  known  his  superior.  After  becoming  some- 
what intimately  acquainted  with  him,  as  I  did  at 
an  early  period  of  my  public  life,  it  really  seemed  to 
me  that  he  was  '  a  discerner  of  spirits.'  Whenever 
he  tm-ned  his  eye  upon  me,  however  mild  and 
benignant  his  aspect,  I  could  hardly  resist  the  im- 
pression that  he  knew  all  that  was  passing  in  my 
heart.  He  was  almost  constantly  scanning  the  char- 
acter and  measuring  the  intellectual  h^ght  and 
depth  of  those  about  him. 


674  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDIXG.  [1852. 

"A  striking  instance,  illiisti-ative  of  tliis,  now 
occurs  to  me.  Some  twenty  years  since,  the  Oneida 
Conference  held  its  annual  session  at  Owego.  The 
bishop  spent  the  previous  Sabbath  at  Utica,  where 
the  writer  was  then  stationed.  A  canal  packet-boat 
was  then  our  medium  of  conveyance  from  Utica  to 
the  seat  of  the  conference.  Among  the  crowd  of  pas- 
sengers on  the  boat  was  a  venerable  old  gentleman, 
apparently  about  seventy,  attired  in  the  costume  of 
the  former  generation — single-breasted  coat,  ruffle  in 
his  bosom,  cue  hanging  down  between  his  shoulders, 
(fcc,  &c.,  and  along  with  him  was  a  young  gentle- 
man and  lady,  seemingly  about  twenty-eight  or 
thirty  years  of  age.  The  latter  were  richly  and 
neatly  clad,  but  as  far  from  mere  display  as  can  well 
be  imagined.  The  whole  bearing  of  the  ti'io  was 
at  once  so  calm  and  so  dignified,  so  easy  and  so 
graceful,  that  it  was  impossible  to  avoid  noticing 
them  a  good  deal.  It  was  quite  evident  they 
belonged  to  the  better  class,  wherever  their  home 
might  be.  Being  seated  near  the  bishop,  he  tapped 
me  on  the  knee,  and  beckoning  my  ear  to  himself, 
smiled  and  said,  'Do  you  want  to  know  who  those 
persons  are?'  I  replied,  'Yes;  are  you  acquainted 
with  them?'  'Ko,'  said  he;  'I  never  saw  them 
before,  and  yet  I  guess  I  can  tell  you  who  they  are.' 
'Do,  then,'  said  I.  'Well,'  responded  the  bishop, 
'  the  old  man  is  a  Connecticut  judge ;  the  lady  is 
his  youngest  daughter,  and  the  young  gentleman  is 
his  son-in-law,  and  a  lawyer.'    Of  course  I  was  a 


1852.]         CHAEACTEE   OF   HIS   INTELLECT.  6Y5 

little  curious  to  ascertain  how  far  the  bishop  was 
correct.  The  young  gentleman  had  previously  made 
some  advances  in  the  way  of  sociality,  and  I  soon 
found  an  opportunity  to  draw  him  out,  even  with- 
out the  necessity  of  resorting  to  any  inquiries  that 
could  be  offensive  to  a  Yankee,  and  found  that 
the  bishop's  almost  instinctive  sagacity  had  not  mis- 
led him,  but  that  his  conjecture  was  right." 

6.  In  this  connexion  it  is  proper  we  should  make 
some  note  upon  the  general  character  of  his  intel- 
lect. We  would  not  claim  for  him  the  highest 
order  of  the  philosophical  intellect,  but  in  the  philo- 
sophical element  his  min^  was  by  no  means  defi- 
cient. The  logical  powers  of  his  mind  were,  un- 
questionably, of  the  highest  order.  His  abstractive 
and  analytic  power  was  very  great.  It  was  most 
interesting  to  see  him  grapple  with  a  complicated 
and  knotty  proposition;  first,  with  what  cool,  clear 
deliberation  he  would  divest  the  terms  of  those 
ambiguities  and  obscurities  that  infest  language,  so 
that  the  point  or  points  in  the  questions  would  stand 
out  with  unmistakable  distinctness.  Then,  through 
the  verbal  proposition,  how  would  he  penetrate  to 
the  very  heart  and  substance  of  the  thing  itself! 
With  him  reasoning  was  not  a  mere  display  of 
technical  expertness — not  a  mere  exercise  of  skill 
in  logical  terms  and  distinctions — but  a  sober  and 
earnest  inquiry  after  truth.  Old  Socrates  himself 
could  hardly  hold  a  thought  with  a  firmer  grasp,  or 
turn  and  examine  it  with  greater  dehberation  or 

29 

I  . 


676  LIFE   AND    TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

with  more  unblenching  scmtiny.  He  often  struck 
into  a  subject  where,  to  others,  it  seemed  least  of 
all  pervious,  and  surprised  you  by  the  exposure  of 
hidden  fallacies  where,  to  less  penetrating  iutellects, 
all  would  seem  to  be  legitimate  and  sound.  He 
both  thought  and  reasoned.  He  not  only  went 
behind  the  logical  form,  but  he  also  mastered  the 
logical  form.  His  dialectics  were  of  the  acutest 
kind.  He  could  prick  out  the  gas  that  inflated  a 
sophism  with  the  same  ease  and  dexterity  with 
which  he  often  pricked  out  the  conceit  of  a  self- 
sufficient  ignoramus. 

In  all  this,  however,  his^  mind  was  of  too  practical 
a  character  for  him  to  have  much  affinity  with  that 
transcendentalism,  Germanism — or  whatever  else  you 
choose  to  call  it — which,  by  many  at  the  present 
day,  is  considered  an  inseparable  adjunct  and  sign 
of  a  great  mind.  He  had  no  affinity,  no  patience 
with  it.  The  robustness  of  his  intellectual  structure 
was  brought  out  and  established,  not  amid  scholastic 
influences,  but  in  the  stern  warfare  of  opinion  in 
practical  life.  Hence  it  partook  of  that  character. 
Thought,  with  him,  was  not  day-di-eaming,  but  an 
earnest  grasping  after  truth :  reasoning  not  a  mere 
intellectual  gladiatorship,  but  an  earnest  effort  to 
discover  the  practical  ends  of  truth,  and  the  means 
of  obtaining  those  ends. 

7.  Of  his  hterary  and  scientific  attainments  we  may 
speak  with  great  respect  and  admiration ;  and  the  more 
so  from  the  early  embarrassments  under  which  he  la- 


1S62.]  LITERAEY  ATTAINMENTS. 


677 


boured,  and  the  comparatively  few  helps  he  had  during 
that  portion  of  life  when  intellectual  acquisitions  are 
usually  made.  We  have  already  noticed  that  he 
never  attempted  the  study  of  the  ancient  languages; 
but  he  did  what  many  who  are  called  classical  scholars 
have  failed  to  do, — he  acquired  a  thorough  mastery 
of  the  English  language.  It  is  rarely  the  case  that  a 
scholar  of  any  grade  could  be  found  who  had  so  criti- 
cal a  knowledge  of  its  intricacies,  and  so  genuine  an 
appreciation  of  its  beauties. 

He  was  a  great  reader — not  in  the  sense  of  running 
over  a  great  deal  of  surface,  but  of  reading  much  in 
choice  books,  and  of  continuing  to  read,  and  to  read 
well.  Of  those  books  which  he  found  rich  in  matter, 
he  was  not  merely  a  reader,  but  a  student ;  he  mas- 
tered their  contents,  analyzed  and  thoroughly  digested 
their  principles.  His  discrimination  was  nice,  and 
his  memory  tenacious  and  exact. 

His  acquirements  in  natural  science  and  philosophy 
in  general  were  quite  respectable  for  a  general  reader ; 
but  in  rhetoric,  logic,  mental  and  moral  philosophy, 
and  the  elements  of  taste  and  criticism,  his  attain- 
ments were  very  great,  and  his  views  generally  pro- 
found»and  critical  as  well  as  correct. 

He  was  regarded  worthy  of  literary  honours.  In 
1829,  the  Trustees  and  Faculty  of  Augusta  College 
unanimously  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  de- 
gree oi  Doctor  of  Divinity.  In  1837  the  same  degree 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Corporation  of  Union 
CoUege ;  and  in  1840  he  was  again  doctorated  by  the 


678  LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

TJniversitj  of  Yermont.  In  1843  he  was  elected  a 
memlDer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Union  College. 
He  was  also,  for  several  years  prior  to  his  death, 
President  of  the  Methodist  Biblical  Institute  at  Con- 
cord, j^ew-Hainpshire. 

8,  As  a  sound,  able,  and  critical  divine,  our  Church 
or  our  country  has  produced  but  few  superiors.  He 
commenced  his  career  as  a  student  in  theology,  with 
the  determination  to  thoroughly  overcome  every  dif- 
ficulty, to  thoroughly  trace  out  every  obscure  or 
doubtful  point,  and  to  store  up  in  his  memory  every 
leading  principle  and  every  important  fact.  By 
these  means,  though  his  progress  at  first  was  slow, 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  profound,  extensive,  and 
ready  theological  knowledge.  His  views  were  com- 
prehensive, logical,  and  well  matured,  l^ot  only  had 
they  been  elaborated  with  great  care,  but  the  analysis 
was  very  distinct ;  and  the  successive  steps  were  not 
only  clearly  defined  in  the  origijial  analysis,  but 
distinct  even  in  the  minutiae  of  their  detail.  It  was 
difficult  to  surprise  him  by  the  introduction  of  any 
topic  in  the  whole  range  of  theology  or  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal polity,  on  w^hich  he  had  not  read  carefully  and 
thought  profoundly.  One  who  had  considered  him- 
self carefully  posted  in  these  matters,  would  often  be 
sui-prised  with  new  and  unexpected  views,  which  the 
bishop  would  suddenly  bring  up,  showing  how  pro- 
foundly he  had  studied  those  subjects,  and  how 
retentive  and  ready  was  his  memory. 

9.  His  discourses  were  an  example  of  neatness, 


1852.]  CHAKACTER    AS    A   PREACHER.  679 


order,  perspicuity,  and  completeness.  There  was  no 
effort  at  any  unnecessary  verbal  criticism,  but  when 
called  for  by  the  subject,  it  was  not  wanting.  There 
was  no  effort  at  logical  skill  or  acuteness ;  but  when 
clear  and  delicate  discrimination  was  required,  no 
man  could  execute  it  with  greater  fidelity  and  suc- 
cess. He  would  not  be  regarded  as  a  popular 
preacher.  The  ability  and  skill  to  charm  the  mul- 
titude with*the  flowers  of  fancy,  with  the  figures  of 
rhetoric,  with  beautiful  quotations,  with  flippant  or 
dramatic  speech,  were  evidently  neither  coveted  nor 
cultivated  by  him.  He  was  a  plain  preacher  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  Of  figurative  illustrations  and 
anecdotes  he  was  sparing, — perhaps  too  much  so,  in 
view  of  their  effect  upon  popular  audiences ;  but  his 
discourses  abounded  in  those  illustrations  which  are 
best  of  all — apposite  quotations  from  the  Sacred 
Word.  His  delivery  was  slow  and  his  action  dehbe- 
rate.  He  never  stormed  or  ranted  in  the  pulpit  or 
in  exhortation ;  but  spoke  with  the  dignity,  earnest- 
ness, and  feeling  of  one  who  was  called  to  deliver  a 
message  of  life  or  of  death  from  the  August  and  the 
Eternal  to  frail,  sinful,  dying  men.  He  excelled  as 
an  exegetical  preacher ;  he  could  draw  out  the  mean- 
ing of  an  intricate  text  or  paragraph  in  the  Bible, 
and  make  its  import  perfectly  transparent  in  the 
view  of  his  hearers.  His  ministry  was  such  as  would 
feast  the  soul  and  the  intellect  of  the  intelligent 
and  pious;  and  when  they  had  received  the  good 

things  handed  out  to  them  from  the  pulpit,  the 
29^ 


680  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDIXG.  [1852. 

confidence  would  be  begotten  in  their  minds  that  the 
rich  banquet  that  had  been  spread  before  them  was 
only  a  small  draught  from  an  overflowing  storehouse. 
'We  should  add  that  he  went  not  into  the  pulpit  with- 
out the  most  careful,  thorough,  and  prayerful  prepara- 
tion. His  motto  was,  "  Beaten  oil  for  the  sanctuary." 
And  to  his  careful  preparation  for  the  pulpit — ^both 
in  his  earlier  and  later  years — more  than  to  any 
fitful  or  accidental  impulse,  is  the  success  of  his  pul- 
pit efforts  owing.  In  this,  as  well  as  in  other  traits 
of  character,  he  may  be  commended  as  an  example 
worthy  to  be  imitated  by  his  sons  in  the  ministry. 

10.  Few  have  ever  excelled  him  as  a  presiding 
officer.  In  the  exercise  of  the  episcopal  functions, 
he  developed  those  rare  qualifications  that  have  dis- 
tinguished him  as  a  presiding  officer,  and  especially 
as  an  expounder  of  ecclesiastical  law.  He  was 
rarely,  if  ever,  thrown  from  his  balance,  whatever 
sudden  excitement,  tumult  or  opposition  might  arise 
in  a  conference ;  nor  could  he  be  perplexed  by  the 
most  complex  questions  of  law  or  of  order,  however 
suddenly  they  might  be  propounded.  He  was 
shrewd,  quick,  intrepid;  and,  surely,  the  man  who 
thought  by  any  strategy  or  dexterity  to  outmanage 
him,  counted  without  his  host.  If  he  had  license 
for  the  moment,  it  was  only  that  the  galvanic  bat- 
tery, which  would  soon  bring  him  to  his  senses, 
might  be  more  heavily  charged. 

When  he  entered  the  episcopal  office,  our  eccle- 
siastical jurisprudence  was  in  its  inchoate  condition. 


1852.] 


SELF-POSSESSION. 


681 


'No  one  lias  done  more  to  develop  and  mature  it 
than  Bishop  Hedding.  The  somidness  of  his  views 
npon  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the  Church  was 
so  fully  and  so  universally  conceded,  that  in  the 
end  he  became  almost  an  oracle  in  these  respects; 
and  his  opinions  are  regarded  with  profound  ven- 
eration. 

Playful  as  Bishop  Hedding  often  was  in  his 
private  and  social  intercourse,  in  public  he  was  ever 
remarkable  for  his  gravity.  His  complete  control 
of  himself — which,  by  the  way,  did  not  seem  in  the 
least  otherwise  than  natural — was  one  of  the  secret 
causes  of  that  great  control  he  had  over  others.  Dr. 
Paddock,  in  the  letter  before  noticed,  says,  "  Sallies 
of  wit  that  sometimes  made  sad  havoc  with  the 
dignity  of  the  conference  over  which  he  was  pre- 
siding, would  move  him  little  more  than  if  he  were 
a  statue.  A  clergyman  of  another  denomination 
was  once  sitting  near  me  at  the  session  of  the 
Oneida  Conference,  when  these  sallies  were  inter- 
changed with  great  effect,  materially  disturbing  the 
risibilities  of  more  than  one  reverend  brother,  not- 
withstanding all  his  efforts  at  resistance.  But  Bishop 
Hedding  was  not  of  the  number.  A  pillar  of  granite 
could  scarcely  have  been  more  immovable.  My 
companion  turned  to  me,  and  said,  '  I  wonder 
whether  your  bishop  ever  smiles?  I  have  watched 
him  closely,  and  cannot  see  even  a  muscle  of  his 
face  move.' 

"In  this  regard  I  never  saw  the  bishop  thrown 


682  LIFE   AND   TIMES   OF   HEDDING.  [1852. 

from  his  balance,  save  only  in  a  single  instance. 
At  a  certain  conference  a  brother  was  recommended 
for  admission  on  trial.  But  his  reception  was 
strenuously  opposed  by  an  excellent  and  influential 
member  of  the  body,  chiefly  on  the  ground  of 
alleged  inadequate  mental  training.  This,  however, 
was  denied  by  those  who  claimed  to  be  much  better 
acquainted  with  the  candidate  than  the  brother 
who  opposed  his  admission.  But  the  latter  was  by  no 
means  willing  to  yield  the  point;  and  in  his  rejoin- 
der gave  instances  of  false  syntax  in  a  discourse 
which  the  candidate  had  delivered  in  his  presence. 
In  the  midst  of  his  remarks,  a  son  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  and  a  member  of  the  conference,  whose  ready 
wit  was  a  striking  mental  characteristic,  hastily 
sprung  from  his  seat,  and  advancing  a  step  toward 
the  speaker,  said,  with  an  air  and  earnestness  which  it 
would  be  difficult  to  describe, — 'Broother!  hroother! 
don't  you  think  he  was  embarrassed  because  you 
were  there?'  The  stroke — coming  as  it  did  sud- 
denly and  unexpectedly — was  irresistible.  The  con- 
ference was  convulsed.  Even  the  bishop  could  not 
stand  before  it ;  giving  himself  up  to  his  emotions, 
his  whole  frame  shook  as  if  receiving  successive 
shocks  from  a  galvanic  battery." 

11.  Bishop  Hedding  was  a  man  of  deep  and 
unaffected  piety.  His  piety  was  not  devoid  of  feel- 
ing, but  it  rested  rather  upon  the  basis  of  religious 
principle  than  of  religious  emotion;  it  was  at  the 
furthest  remove  from  asceticism,  or  that  repulsive 


1862.]  CHAKACTEE    OF   HIS   PIETY.  683 

austerity  which  so  often  makes  reUgion  itself  seem 
unamiable.  In  him  trifling  and  levity  found  no 
place ;  but  cheerfulness — the  genial  sunshine  of 
the  heart — difiused  its  loveliness  all  around  him. 
There  was  no  self-reKance,  no  confident  nor  high 
professions;  but  there  was  what  was  far  better — 
piety,  silent  but  incessant,  consistent,  deep,  all- 
pervading;  working  out  practical  results,  producing 
genuine  fruits,  forming  the  character,  regulating  the 
life.  No  one  can  doubt  his  deep  experience  of  the 
things  of  God  and  of  the  sanctifying  of  the  blood 
of  Jesus.  But  of  this  he  studiously  avoided  any 
public  profession;  and  even  when  importuned  dur- 
ing his  last  sickness,  by  one  zealously  devoted  to  the 
promotion  of  the.  doctrine  in  its  special  aspects,  to 
make  a  profession  of  entire  sanctification,  he  kindly 
but  firmly  declined.  He  seemed  much  more  inclined 
to  make  that  other  confession ; — 

"  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me." 

Yet  in  the  trying  hour  he  did  not  lack  the  confi- 
dence of  faith,  nor  the  presence  of  the  divine  Com- 
forter; and  in  heaven,  we  confidently  believe,  the 
divine  plaudit — "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant"— awaited  him.  This  unwillingness  to  make 
any  profession  or  acknowledgment  of  high  attain- 
ments in  religion,  may  have  resulted  as  much  from 
the  extreme  modesty  of  his  nature,  the  poor  estimate 
he  always  formed  of  himself  and  of  his  perform- 
ances, and  his*  painful  consciousness  of  his  errors 


684 


LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF  HEDDING. 


[1852. 


and  imperfections,  as  from  his  profound  sense  of  tlie 
high  responsibility  attached  to  such  professions.  He 
may,  too,  have  thought  that  the  profession  that  he 
was  a  sinner  seeking  salvation  through  the  blood 
of  Jesus,  was  more  fitting  to  his  condition,  and 
more  congenial  to  his  feehngs,  than  any  other.  He 
evidently  sought  to  encom'age  experience  and  prac- 
tice rather  than  profession. 

13.  'We  cannot  further  particularize.  The  great 
excellence  of  Bishop  Hedding's  character  consisted 
in  the  harmonious  development  of  all  its  parts,  and 
not  in  an  undue  development  of  some  particular 
feature.  Many  of  his  contemporaries  surpassed  him 
in  particular  acquirements,  or  in  specific  talents. 
Some  were  more  learned  as  scholars;  some  were 
more  eloquent  in  public  discourse ;  and  some  were 
more  attractive  in  personal  form  and  address.  But 
in  Bishop  Hedding  there  was  a  combination  of  noble 
qualities,  which  gave  him  completeness  of  character. 

So  of  his  services  in  the  Church.  They  consist  not 
of  sudden  and  striking  acts  of  heroic  daring ;  but  of  a 
long  life  of  patient  labour  in  the  highest  sphere  of 
usefulness.  The  striking  characteristic  of  him  was 
not  that  he  was  a  fast  worker — a  brilliant  performer ; 
but  that  he  was  a  judicious,  faithful,  earnest  labourer 
in  the  cause  of  God  and  the  Church.  He  was  faith- 
ful and  patient  in  small  as  well  as  in  great  matters. 
Xo  duty  was  so  insig-nificant  as  not  to  receive 
earnest  and  faithful  attention.  The  greatness  of  his 
service  to  the  Chui'ch  consisted  in  the  devotion  of 


1852.] 


TESTIMONIES   TO   HIS  WORTH. 


685 


half  a  centuiy,  in  this  maimer,  to  the  promotion  of 
her  interests  and  of  the  Redeemer's  glory. 

Few  men  have  left  behind  them  a  more  spotless 
reputation,  or  have  been  more  widely  or  more  sin- 
cerely mourned  than  Bishop  Hedding.  The  journals 
of  the  day — ^both  secular  and  religious — made  men- 
tion of  his  death,  and  bore  honourable  testimony  to 
his  virtue,  piety,  and  usefulness.  Funeral  discourses, 
almost  without  number,  were  preached,  and  in  every 
part  of  the  country.  The  preachers'  meetings  in 
various  cities,  the  annual  conferences,  and  the  Gene- 
ral Conference,  that  occurred  soon  after  his  death, 
passed  resolutions  expressive  of  their  high  estimate 
of  his  talents,  services,  and  character. 

14.  The  life  and  labours  of  Bishop  Hedding  ex- 
tended through  an  important  epoch  in  the  history  of 
Methodism  in  this  country.  When  he  first  entered 
the  ministry,  the  work,  then  extending  over  the  whole 
United  States  and  Canada,  comprised  but  eight  an- 
nual conferences,  three  hundred  and  seven  preachers, 
and  seventy-two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  members,  ^ow  we  have  on  the  same  terri- 
tory (1853):— 

Conferences.  Tr.  pr's.      Lo.  pr's.  Members, 

In  the  M.  E.  Church   31     4,450     5,700  721,804 

In  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,   20     1,700     3,955  514,601 

In  Canada,  (including  N.  B.  &  N.S.)     3       116       198  19,013 

Making  a  grand  total  of   54     6,266     9,853  1,255,418 

A  man  who  had  participated  in  labours  and  wit- 
nessed results  like  these,  might  well  feel  that  he 
had  not  lived  in  vain. 


686  LIFE    AXD    TIMES    OF    HEDDIXG.  [1852. 

But  this  ^as  not  all.  TTithin  the  period  of  his 
labours  the  character  and  genius  of  Methodism  have 
been  largely  developed  ;  the  capabilities  of  our  gene- 
ral Chui'ch  organization  have  been  closely  tested; 
our  vast  educational  systems  operating  upon  the  pub- 
lic mind  through  the  press,  the  Sunday  school,  the 
seminary,  and  the  college — have  all  received  charac- 
ter and  direction,  if  not  their  veiy  existence.  Tlie 
Church  has  been  increasino^  in  resources  and  intel- 
ligence,  and  a  higher  tone  of  educational  influence 
has  been  brought  to  bear  upon  the  ministry.  In  all 
this  substantial  progress  he  had  a  deep  sympathy, 
and  contributed  his  full  measure  of  influence. 

In  his  life  and  in  his  death,  Bishop  Hedding  has 
left  to  the  Church  of  Christ  one  of  the  richest  legacies ; 
his  life  was  a  triumph  of  goodness,  his  death  a  triumph 
of  faith.  The  benedictions  of  the  Church  rest  upon 
him,  and  future  generations  shall  rise  up  to  bless  his 
memory.  Devout  men,  with  great  lamentation,  bore 
him  to  his  burial.  He  rests  from  his  labours  ;  his 
works  do  follow  him.  "Tlie  memorial  of  virtue  is 
immortal,  because  it  is  known  with  God  and  men. 
"When  it  is  present,  men  take  example  at  it ;  and 
when  it  is  gone  they  desire  it;  it  weareth  a  crown 
and  triumpheth  forever." 


THE  END. 


DATE  DUE 

CAYLORO 

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